From: tfalcone@comcast.net
Date: Wed Mar 19 2003 - 20:45:24 EST
Next message: Nina Vehslage: "[Channel-talkchemistry] Workshop 8 question"
Clear DayA couple of comments on the last workshop:
1. Yes, we also do a flame test because it always is a crowd pleaser. We also do the unknown. I like the expert witness idea, letter writing is a great activity. I have made my students write letters to an alien from a waterless planet about the properties of water and gotten some great work.
2. In our ninth grade chemistry unit we do a big forensics thing - we even have a story line that goes along with it. The labs that we do include chromatography of black pens used in writing a murder note, soil analysis from suspect shoes, fingerprinting, analysis of an unknown metal by flametest, simulated blood testing and we even use the kymograph from anatomy to do a final lie detector test.
3. I think it's great that all this biology is tied in, we require that our students pass chemistry before they go into advanced biology just so they have the background for this.
4. Product testing is always a great thing we do tests of the efficiency of different antacids. We test which antacid works the fastest and which antacid neutralizes the most stomach acid - so we actually talk about and do titrations and discuss kinetics/solubility factors.
5. The six threads would fit right into my curriculum. I think because that is the base of chemistry anyway.I also agree that it does not take so many chemicals any more. We have a running joke that all we ever seem to order is HCl and silver nitrate (we silverize bottles).
Anyway, another great class - I really found this course helpful. Tina Falconer
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