Strategy and tactics

The 2014 Canadian Oxford Dictionary states that strategy is a “long-range policy designed for a particular purpose”, such as a strategy for effective learning. Tactics, on the other hand, refer to “a plan or method used to achieve something”, like completing all homework and studying well in advance of tests.

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Category: Feature Pedagogy, opinion and advice Editorials

An 1860 blood test for you to try

In medico-legal inquiries, it is often of the utmost importance to determine the character of red spots on linen or steel, supposed to be blood stains. M. Brucke has recently published the following method, as being superior to those in common use: – ‘Wash the spot with cold distilled water. To the reddish liquor thus obtained add a solution of sea salt, and evaporate to dryness, in vacuo, over a vessel containing sulphuric acid...

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Category: Chemistry

Sharing chemistry with the community

One of the many advantages of having students peruse sources of chemical demonstrations rather than my telling them which ones they should perform is that they occasionally come across demonstrations that I have not seen before. One example of this is when Stacey Wolfson found “How to Blow Out a Light Bulb” in A Demo A Day, Volume 2, B. Bilash II, G. Gross, & J. Koob, (1998), pages 208-209, Flinn Scientific, Inc. This demonstration was new to me.

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Category: Activities Outreach

CEMPAZUCHITL, a puzzle celebrating the Mexican Day of the Dead

Although Halloween is celebrated in a few areas in Mexico, the traditional festivity is the Day of the Dead, which falls on November 2. Many families visit the tombs of relatives and place thousands of yellow-orange flowers named “CEMPAZUCHITL” along with other items on an offering table, called “ofrenda”.

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Category: Feature Activities Themed and special days Student challenges Magazine puzzles