1. Work with any of the Chemistry Simulations (PhET) and/or develop a demonstration (do a web search, there are many demos out there) to create your own Teaching Ideas. The criteria for this as follows:
a. must identify and meet three next generation science education standards within the K-2 grade band
b. must be original work
c. Must be scientifically accurate and appropriate for the directed grade level
d. Must have an accompanying worksheet with at least 7-10 questions related to each activity simulation. Answering these questions should be related to meeting the science standards identified.
D. 4.3 Understand that substances can exist in different states-solid,liquid,gas.
C.4.6 Communicate the results of their investigations in ways their audiences will understand by using charts, graphs, drawings, written descriptions, and various other means, to display their answers.
C.EL. 1 uses observation to gather information
My experiment deals with the different states of matter: solids, liquids, and gases. I will tell the students what each of these are and draw on the board what each of these molecules look like. I will give the students many different examples of each state, and then have the students do it themselves to see what they've learned and what they remember. I will place different objects of each of these around the room such as a pencil for solid, a cup of water for liquid, etc.
The worksheet for this experiment will be:
1. Draw a picture of something in the room that is a solid.
2. Draw a picture of something in the room that is a liquid.
3. Can you find something in the room that is a gas? (Hint! Blow on your hand. Do you feel that?!)
4. Draw a picture of what solid molecules look like.
5. Draw a picture of what liquid molecules look like.
6. Draw a picture of what gas molecules look like.
7. Give one more example of a solid that is not in this room.
8. Give one more example of a liquid that is not in this room.
9. Give one more example of a gas that is not in this room.
2. How do you feel your understanding of science and chemistry in particular has changed due to your experiences in this class?
My understanding of science has changed due to the fact that I now see how it plays a part in every day activities. Things such as blowing up a balloon with Helium or air, boiling/freezing water, all of the different chemicals around my house, or how fireworks are created are all created through science. My understanding of chemistry has changed by looking into the deeper aspects of science. There are many branches of science, but chemistry is looking into the smallest parts of it. I never understood chemistry in high school and thought this class was going to be too complicated for me. From sticking it out, I feel as if it makes so much more sense and this class honestly would have been helpful before going into chemistry in high school because it would have been much easier to learn if I would have learned it the way this class taught me.
3. What was the most challenging concept covered and why?
The most challenging concept for me was the naming of the molecules. I've always had a struggle with this and have never fully understood how the names change and why. I understand it a little bit more since I've done the activity because I had to practice a ton when naming 20 different substances around my house. I still don't completely understand, but I have a better idea.
4. How could you facilitate future learning to your students who might also find learning about science and chemistry challenging?
I would help my students understand by giving them hands on activities that allow them to work through the problems that they are struggling with rather than just have them answer questions on paper. I would also facilitate this learning by having the students practice a ton. This class helped me learn the content by having me do repetitions of the examples and this is what I will do with my students as well.
5. As you think about your future in education, give three ways you think you'll be able to implement the skills you've learned in this class (it doesn't necessarily have to be chemistry content based).
-repetition and practice: The more examples/time you give a student to learn the content, the better they will learn it. If they mess up once, they have more chances rather than just moving onto a new subject and forgetting about it.
-hands on activities: by giving the students hands on activities they will be able to practice and learn through their own successes or mistakes.
-responsibility: With this course I have really taught myself to be responsible when it came to getting all of my homework done and learning the content over 4 weeks of class on my own. I will teach my students the same thing by having due dates and making sure my students get their work done on time.
