By Holly Desrosier
Craven Community College (Craven CC) chemistry instructor Dr. Carmela Magliocchi-Byrnes has developed a creative way for her students to celebrate the holiday season while remaining in the chemistry element over the years. As an optional assignment, she has her students rewrite lyrics to popular Christmas tunes in a chemistry theme.
She first started these special assignments in 2015 after challenging her students to write a chemistry-themed poem in the style of “The Night Before Christmas.” Since then, she has had students rewrite lyrics to “Carol of the Bells,” “The First Noel” and “Sleigh Ride.” A winner from each of Byrnes’ chemistry classes was selected for publication.
This year, the assignment was to rewrite the lyrics to the Christmas classic “Winter Wonderland” in a chemistry theme, and the students did not disappoint.
“Winter (Chemistry) Wonderland” by Tatum Baldree
Gases explode, are you listening?
In the beaker, a reactant’s glistening.
A beautiful sight,
We’re studyin’ tonight,
Walking in a chemistry wonderland.
Vapored away is the liquid;
Here to stay is formed a solid.
We sing a love song,
The periodic table,
Walking in a chemistry wonderland.
In our lab we’ll create more reactions.
Don’t forget to take your measurements.
My partner asks: How many sig figs are there?
I tell her don’t forget the units.
Later on, we’ll mix acids,
And then we’ll add a base to it;
It’s then neutralized.
We’re studyin’ tonight,
Walking in a chemistry wonderland.
In our lab we’ll create more reactions;
Maybe we’ll add some heat to it,
We’ll have lots of fun with Dr. Byrnes,
Until she assigns us the homework.
When we pass, we’ll be thrilling,
Up next the final we’ll be chilling.
Don’t frolic and play, in the lab where we stay,
Walking in a chemistry wonderland.
Walking in a chemistry wonderland.
Walking in a chemistry wonderland.
“Final Chem Exam” and “Here Comes Chem Exam” by Khu Say Wah
Final’s here, are you studying?
In the night, procrastinating.
A terrible sight, we’re stressing tonight.
Study for the final chem exam.
(Here comes chem exam, here comes chem exam
Right down Perdue Hall Lane.
Tungsten, Krypton, all the el’ments,
Knowing all the names)
Gone away is the brain cells,
Here to stay is the sig fig.
We’ll name the compounds,
Remember OIL RIG.
Study for the final chem exam.
Mole and stoichiometry of hydrate;
We’ll study to make sure what they are.
I’ll say: Are you ready?
You’ll say: Yes ma’am,
Only if I study plenty now.
In the end, we’ll concentrate
(Here comes chem exam)
As we wish to get an A.
(Here comes chem exam)
To patiently wait
For the grade we’ll make,
Study for the final chem exam.
In the final we can make a difference
(States of matter, grams and meter)
By sleeping early before midnight.
(All of VSEPR shapes)
We’ll have breakfast before taking the test
(Know the half-life n’ know your bonds)
In order to not make our stomach growl.
(Better start studying today)
When we learn, ain’t it thrilling,
(Here comes chem exam)
Though your brain gets an aching.
(Here comes chem exam)
We’ll study and rest to get a good grade.
Study for the final chem exam.
When we learn, ain’t it thrilling,
(Here comes chem exam)
Though your brain gets an aching.
(Here comes chem exam)
We’ll study and rest to get a good grade.
Study for the final chem exam.
This article was originally published in the New Bern Sun Journal on December 23, 2020.