Green Chemistry
This past summer, I took part in an online professional development offered by Beyond Benign. According to the Web site, “Beyond Benign was created by Dr. John Warner, a founder of the field of Green Chemistry, to provide an approach and means for scientists, particularly those involved in green chemistry and sustainable science, to reach out to the public.” I learned a great deal from the training. I was exposed to many resources that I did not know existed. I found lessons that I can easily incorporate into my curriculum that make a connection between the student and the chemistry content. Nothing is more powerful in a chemistry classroom than when a student can identify how the course content affects their everyday life and their future.
Particulate Models in Video
We are encouraged to use modelling these days and I have some activities to share along with some videos that might help you in the process.
MOSART Tests
The MOSART tests are designed to measure understanding of science concepts. The name, MOSART, stands for:
Misconceptions-Oriented Standards-based Assessment Resources for Teachers
JCE Classroom Activity #111: Legos and Formulas
I used JCE Classroom Activity #111 in my chemistry classes today. (Subscription to JCE required.) What a great way to help students make the connection between number of ions present, the charges of the ions and the neutral compound formula.
Fluorescent Fashionista
Halloween is a great time of year to do experiments with fluorescence. Check out the video in which we experiment with some fluorescent yarn.
JCE Special Issue Call For Papers
The College Board released a new framework for the AP chemistry course that teachers are using this year. The new curriculum emphasizes big ideas, enduring understandings, and science practices.
Elemental Videos
The Periodic Table of Videos has been around for a while, but they are actively updating videos and creating new ones. The videos were created by Brady Haran at the University of Nottingham. They are short and very informative. I like to use them during lessons when my classes are discussing specific elements. For instance, some of us like to demonstrate adding lithium and/or sodium to wate
JCE 90.10—October 2013 Issue Highlights
Celebrating National Chemistry Week 2013—Energy: Now and Forever The October 2013 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education is now available online [http://pubs.acs.org/toc/jceda8/90/10]. This latest issue of JCE plus the content of all past issues, volumes 1 through 90, are available at http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc.
Mole of the Year
Here is a pic from the 2009 award including board members of the National Mole Day Foundation and past Moles of the Year.
goReact app
I was excited to recently come across a new free app for the iPad entitled goREACT by the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago.