We practiced more solution concentration calculations. We then practiced making NaCl solutions of different concentrations in the lab. Since it was our last class together, we did the iodine clock reaction for fun.

After completing the novel Where the Crawdads Sing a month ago, today we read and analyzed the music lyrics by Taylor Swift for the upcoming movie on the book. Bella analyzed the lyrics for character development, theme, setting, and mood. She then analyzed the album cover for the theme of the novel. We then read another short story by Langston Hughes.

Bella read and analyzed the short story Thank You, Ma'am. After the reading, we did a character analysis of Roger. Bella then did a writing assignment where she wrote a short story
about this character, attempting to make the character sympathetic to the reader—in other words, create
a character that the reader could understand and like despite his or her behavior.

There are many secret or private items, communications, events that are only known to U.S. presidents. For instance, when Franklin Roosevelt died during his 4th term of office in April, 1945, his V.P., and new President, Harry Truman did not know about the Manhattan Project until he became president. Every president has had a unique and complicated relationship with the intelligence community. Since John F. Kennedy's presidency, this relationship has entered into a personalized daily report: a short summary of what U.S. intelligence considers the most crucial information for the president to know that day about global threats and opportunities. This top-secret document is known as the President's Daily Brief, or, within national security circles, simply "the Book." Presidents have spent anywhere from a few moments (Richard Nixon) to a healthy part of their day (George W. Bush) consumed by its contents; some (Bill Clinton and George H. W. Bush) consider it far and away the most important document they saw on a regular basis while commander in chief. The details of most "PDBs" are highly classified, and will remain so for many years. We took a virtual tour of the Oval Office and Mt. Vernon in class today, too.

In George Washington's cabinet, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, became bitter rivals. They had different political and economic views and each wanted to be Washington's most trusted advisor. Hamilton's First Bank of the United States received its charter in 1791. This infuriated Jefferson, who believed that a state bank gave the federal government too much power. The Democratic-Republicans, led by Jefferson, opposed a strong centralized government and instead, believed power should be invested among the people at the local level. The Federalists, on the other hand, led by Hamilton and others, supported a strong federal government and a national bank. The Election of 1800 was one of the most bizarre and heated elections in American history. Hamilton hatched a plot to throw the election to Charles Pinckney, but after Jefferson and Burr tied, Hamilton decided to support Jefferson, fearing Burr to be dangerous. Years of political rivalry between Jefferson and Hamilton ended in 1804 when Burr killed Hamilton in a pistol duel. We learned more about the rivalry between Hamilton & Jefferson by viewing some of the landmark musical, "Hamilton."

We practiced calculating molarity and other ways of expressing solution concentration.

Bella read and analyzed the short story Charles by Shirley Jackson. We discussed the elements of humor in literature and how it develops characterization. Bella wrote a paragraph imitating the elements of the short story. We then began the short story Thank You Ma'am by Langston Highes. We will complete the story tomorrow.

There is so much we can observe from U.S. History by just looking at our currency. The signing of the Declaration of Independence is on the back of a modern-day $2.00 bill and Thomas Jefferson is on the front. Independence Hall is on the back of the $100.00 bill and Benjamin Franklin is on the front. History is all around us - all we need to do is be aware and pay attention. For instance, the beautiful iconic Jupiter Lighthouse will turn 162 years old later this week. It's beacon was first lit on July 10, 1860 - one year before the outbreak of the Civil War. Military Trail begins in Jupiter at Indiantown Road. It dates back to the Second Seminole War in 1835. We returned to some scenes from the film, "National Treasure," which focuses on U.S. History and the sites we can visit and appreciate today. We went from how the Declaration of Independence & Constitution are stored in the National Archives to the Jefferson Memorial. We then virtually visited the Franklin Institute, Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. So glad Bella is enjoying this as she has never been to Washington, DC or Philadelphia. Benjamin Franklin was many things in his lifetime: a printer, a postmaster, an ambassador, an author, a scientist, a Founding Father. Above all, he was an inventor, creating solutions to common problems and innovating new technology. Despite creating some of the most successful and popular inventions of the modern world, Franklin never patented a single one, believing that they should be shared freely. Some of Benjamin Franklin's inventions are: the lightening rod, bifocal eyeglasses, swim fins (truly - he was an avid swimmer),the Franklin stove to heat rooms (instead of a fireplace), and some medical and musical gadgets, as well.

Bella read and analyzed William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily". We analyzed for methods of narrations and the multiple narrators, stream of consciousness, point of view, mood, and sequence.

We went over heterogeneous mixtures and solutions. We then started to discuss solution concentration and ways of calculating it.