While she thought no one would ever notice the small portions of chemicals she was taking from her Chem 2 class, the chemistry teacher started to wonder why he was having to reorder more chemicals 3/4 of the way through the school year, and the chemicals that only his Chem 2 students had been using. He knew that he had used a little more then planned for a couple of demonstrations, he surely did not use an excess amount which would be causing him to request more money from the principal to have enough to finish off the year. This wasn't the first time he had students using chemicals for things other than the experiments that he had them do to learn the various principals discussed in class, but he never did enjoy having to argue with the principal for more money for his class to function at a level in which students were engaged and learning. Despite the principals reluctance to approve the additional expenditure, the chemistry teacher promised to find what had caused him to run out of the chemicals used for his Chemistry 2 class. What was tough was to find which student was causing the problem. All the students in his Chemistry 2 class were smart and well-behaved students. Most were Juniors and Seniors and very high achievers both academical and in their extra-curricular activities. Had it been one of his Chem 1 students he could easily pinpoint the kid that was failing and observe his behavior for a day or two to see what kind of stupid things he was doing. Trying to find the culprit out of his Chemistry 2 class would mean having to observe all 32 students at the same time doing something stupid.
The next lab started out like any other, all the students filing to the back to wash beakers, set up bunsen burners, and start weighing out the necessary chemicals to complete each experiment. The teacher, did what he normally did during this time, with such responsible students, this was a great time to catch up on email and grading, but that would have to wait as he would need to watch each of the students and how they acted while weighing the chemicals. To try and not raise suspicion, Mr. Glassglow, walked to the back of the chemical room, and stepped behind the door to observe which students might be over weighing their chemicals. Luke and his group came up and didn't do anything abnormal, despite taking way to long to weigh out each chemical needed. Molly cam up for her group and quickly measured everything out, nothing weird their, and Mr. Glassglow didn't expect anything to be out of sorts seeing that Molly was the top of her class and a very bright young lady. Chrissy came up for her group and seemed to get too much of the sulfuric acid, but quickly returned it once the group noticed the mistake. And Brian, Bonny, Alicia, Dallin, and Bobby seemed to measure everything out as laid out in the lesson plan. Mr. Glassglow returned to his seat at his computer some what stumped. Maybe the student would come back later to collect more of something. He didn't seem to know how anyone would have plenty of time to slip away to measure more chemicals as he would put them away half way through class in preparation for his Chemistry 1 class. He sat there watching and observing, waiting for someone, anyone to go back and take more, acting as if he was busy typing away on his computer. All the students here busy measuring and moving chemicals, heating and cooling as the outlined had called for, yes. There was a little joking and an occasionally a group would get lost and seek help from the other groups around. That is the type of collaboration and effort any teacher would want to see. Many groups would often seek out Molly's group as they were usually on task and had the answers before anyone else. It became the norm for Molly to walk around and check in with everyone to see what their results were. She seemed so interested in seeing how everyone's results would turn out. While Molly was talking with Dallin, Bonny headed back for more chemicals, finally a clue. Bonny went and remeasured all of her chemicals again, adding a little more to each. Trying to not cause to many problems I wandered back to ask Bonny how everything was going. Bonny, seemed a bit frazzled, confused and embarrassed that she had to measure the chemicals three times, just to get them right, but yet Ricky, seemed to be confused as well, as he stated that he had watched Bonny measure everything the second time and it all measure out. Then next Dallin went to measure more chemicals, and then Chrissy. It seemed odd that I never noticed how many times my students had to go back to remeasure their chemicals. And then I saw it out of the corner of my eye, Molly, slipping an envelope into her Chemistry book. What would she have an envelope for during an experiment. I quickly asked her if I could use her book to show her group the formula that we had been discussing. Her face turned white, her body froze, she knew she had been caught. But why, why would she be taking small portions of chemicals from each of the groups,what purpose did it serve her.
The next lab started out like any other, all the students filing to the back to wash beakers, set up bunsen burners, and start weighing out the necessary chemicals to complete each experiment. The teacher, did what he normally did during this time, with such responsible students, this was a great time to catch up on email and grading, but that would have to wait as he would need to watch each of the students and how they acted while weighing the chemicals. To try and not raise suspicion, Mr. Glassglow, walked to the back of the chemical room, and stepped behind the door to observe which students might be over weighing their chemicals. Luke and his group came up and didn't do anything abnormal, despite taking way to long to weigh out each chemical needed. Molly cam up for her group and quickly measured everything out, nothing weird their, and Mr. Glassglow didn't expect anything to be out of sorts seeing that Molly was the top of her class and a very bright young lady. Chrissy came up for her group and seemed to get too much of the sulfuric acid, but quickly returned it once the group noticed the mistake. And Brian, Bonny, Alicia, Dallin, and Bobby seemed to measure everything out as laid out in the lesson plan. Mr. Glassglow returned to his seat at his computer some what stumped. Maybe the student would come back later to collect more of something. He didn't seem to know how anyone would have plenty of time to slip away to measure more chemicals as he would put them away half way through class in preparation for his Chemistry 1 class. He sat there watching and observing, waiting for someone, anyone to go back and take more, acting as if he was busy typing away on his computer. All the students here busy measuring and moving chemicals, heating and cooling as the outlined had called for, yes. There was a little joking and an occasionally a group would get lost and seek help from the other groups around. That is the type of collaboration and effort any teacher would want to see. Many groups would often seek out Molly's group as they were usually on task and had the answers before anyone else. It became the norm for Molly to walk around and check in with everyone to see what their results were. She seemed so interested in seeing how everyone's results would turn out. While Molly was talking with Dallin, Bonny headed back for more chemicals, finally a clue. Bonny went and remeasured all of her chemicals again, adding a little more to each. Trying to not cause to many problems I wandered back to ask Bonny how everything was going. Bonny, seemed a bit frazzled, confused and embarrassed that she had to measure the chemicals three times, just to get them right, but yet Ricky, seemed to be confused as well, as he stated that he had watched Bonny measure everything the second time and it all measure out. Then next Dallin went to measure more chemicals, and then Chrissy. It seemed odd that I never noticed how many times my students had to go back to remeasure their chemicals. And then I saw it out of the corner of my eye, Molly, slipping an envelope into her Chemistry book. What would she have an envelope for during an experiment. I quickly asked her if I could use her book to show her group the formula that we had been discussing. Her face turned white, her body froze, she knew she had been caught. But why, why would she be taking small portions of chemicals from each of the groups,what purpose did it serve her.
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