CHEM-2

Everyday Chemicals

(recommended first activity)
Students make observations and describe properties of common substances. The description of physical properties of substances and the concept of a chemical reaction are introduced.

Build a Community

Students examine the essential services a community should provide as they explore the relationships and interactions between humans and their environment. In small groups, students design an Àideal” community and present their proposals to their classroom community members.

Sound

Students explore the cause of, and variables involved in, the production of sound. They learn about the difference between pitch and volume and about the vibrational (wave) nature of sound. Students also examine testimony in a mock jury trial as they try to determine fault in a case involving a personĦs hearing loss.

Energy to Go!

Students investigate electricity and magnetism as they make simple battery-powered electromagnets. They then explore trade-offs in the consumer use of different kinds of batteries and learn about the environmental effects of battery usage and disposal.

CHEM Chronicle

Students identify and explore how different media techniques are used for different purposes. Using media methods, they produce a class Ànewspaper ” that summarizes their prior CHEM experiences. This newspaper can be used both as an indicator of what the class has learned and as a means of informing parents about classroom activities.

The Inside Story

Students are introduced to the idea that all foods are made up of chemicals. Food product labels are used to introduce and discuss food additives. Acid/base testing is used as one way of differentiating chemicals frequently used as food additives and in food preparation.

My Sweet Tooth

Students investigate the physical properties of sugar and sugar substitutes. They use a taste test to compare sugar and sugar substitutes and decide which they prefer. Other factors that influence a personĦs decision to use sugar or sugar substitutes are discussed. Ideas related to risk and decision making are introduced.

Mystery Spill

Students learn how qualitative tests are used to help identify chemicals. Using common household substances, a highway spill of potentially dangerous chemicals is simulated to reinforce the idea that we need to know what something is before we can deal with it properly. The standard highway placarding system for identifying chemical shipments is introduced, and students learn the symbols and their meaning by playing a game.

Hazardous Home

Students use pictures of different rooms to identify potentially hazardous chemicals found in the home. They are encouraged to work with their families to set up a home hazardous substance inventory program. Students complete a survey and extend it to adults in their community to investigate the recommended disposal procedures for various hazardous substances.

Trash or Cash?

Students collect, categorize, and measure the amount of trash they produce in a day at school. They use their estimate of the amount generated as an indicator of our societyĦs waste disposal problem. Source reduction, recycling, and reuse are introduced as ways of reducing the amount of waste an individual produces.

What Is a Threshold?

Students use successive dilution of a sugar substitute to determine their threshold of taste. This experience is used to introduce the concept of a threshold. Definitions of "poison" and "toxic" are developed as the students are introduced to the role of thresholds in determining the toxic level of a substance.

Smoking and My Health

A smoking machine is used to model what actually happens when a person smokes a cigarette. Comparing a smoked cigarette filter to an unsmoked one introduces the harmful chemicals found in cigarettes. Students review and categorize cigarette advertisements to determine how cigarette companies use ads to encourage young people to smoke. The importance of obtaining and using information as part of a personĦs decision-making process is emphasized.

Carbon Dioxide and Me

Students observe the burning of a candle and use an indicator to determine that carbon dioxide is a product of burning and of their own respiration. Plant and animal roles in the carbon cycle are illustrated. Students investigate some of the properties of carbon dioxide by carrying out investigations and observing demonstrations by the teacher.

Pharmacology

Students examine historical and modern advertisements for medicines and explore the methods they use to appeal to consumers. Students learn about variables that affect dissolving rates as they investigate the design and function of some over-the-counter products. They also learn the importance of reading warning labels and following the instructions when taking any medication.

Good to the Last Drop

Students explore the cohesive property of water and learn to differentiate between solutions and mixtures. They then investigate and compare the processes of filtration and sedimentation for improving water quality. Students build a filtration device and design a model water treatment and filtration system for their community.