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Pre-visit Preparation - Students should become familiar with atoms (atomic structure, subatomic particles, and energy levels of the electron cloud) by constructing their own atomic models. The purpose is to help students focus on fundamental concepts of chemistry such as matter and elements.
RPSEC Program - Students will observe, explore, and interpret one of chemistry's greatest tools, the periodic table. Students will be able to observe the arrangement of the periodic table through manipulatives as well as with the "Living Periodic Table of The Elements" housed in the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center. Mnemonics, puzzles, and games will be used to enhance the students' exploration of periodic table relationships. Individual and group exercises will be used to provide a working knowledge of the elements, symbols, atomic numbers, and atomic weights, periods, and families of elements and how they are related. Students will learn how to distinguish elemental characteristics and properties based on their arrangement within the periodic table. Simple chemical demonstrations will be used to illustrate interactions between familiar elements. A discussion of current issues such as air and solid waste pollution will demonstrate the relevance of chemistry in the lives of all citizens and emphasize its importance in making decisions that effect our environment.
Extension Activity - Students may participate in activities that demonstrate important environmental, safety, and health issues relative to chemistry. Additional activities and resources will be provided on request.
Chem-Mysteries
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Students will solve problems using their "who-done-it" investigative skills. Activities may simulate the steps taken after a mysterious chemical spill or they may simulate the role of a chemist working in a police laboratory. Through experimentation with common household powders in one activity, students will observe physical properties and chemical changes that occur when the powders are manipulated. From their observations they will make inferences that can help determine the identity of an unknown substance found on the highway following a simulated tanker accident. Among the concepts learned will be physical property, acid, carbonate, chemical change, and inference. In another activity students will use paper chromatography to solve a candy theft. They will apply process skills such as prediction, classification, communication, hypothesis formulation, and variable control to find the "guilty" parties in this mystery. In the process students will learn how chromatography works and some of its real world applications. These activities introduce the concepts of pigments, solutions, solvents, mixtures, variables, and systematic testing in a motivational format. No other program may be scheduled during the same time block with an Ecohike. A maximum of 35 students may participate in one time block.
Cabbage Juice Chemistry
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This program involves the analysis of mystery liquids. Students will use a natural indicator, such as cabbage juice, to assist them in determining the relative acidity of several common household liquids. They will rank the unknown household samples according to their reaction with the indicators and the resulting color changes. A discussion of acids and bases and the pH system will be included.
How Do You Spell Relief?
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Students will determine the best buy in commercial antacids such as Tums, Rolaids, and generic brands. With the aid of the SensorNet Computer Laboratory interface and probes, they will learn the process of titration. They will become more capable of evaluating television commercials that claim to market the best product for neutralizing stomach acids. Cooperative groups will be used and laboratory safety will be emphasized throughout these simple chemistry activities.
The University of
South Carolina - Aiken  |
Rpsec@aiken.sc.edu |
URL: http://rpsec.usca.sc.edu/Student/chemistry.html (August 1997)