As a chemistry teacher, I am constantly looking for ways to engage my students, promote community building, and reinforce key concepts. One effective way to achieve all these goals is through the use of brain breaks, short activities that provide students with a mental reset while incorporating learning in a fun and interactive manner. In this blog post, I will introduce you to a chemistry brain break activity my students love that combines the thrill of a race with the reinforcement of essential concepts – the Water Maze Challenge!

The Benefits of Brain Breaks for High School Students

Before delving into the details of the Water Maze Challenge, let's explore why brain breaks are such a valuable tool for high school chemistry educators:

1. Enhanced Focus: Brain breaks interrupt prolonged periods of instruction, helping high school students recharge their mental batteries. When they return to their desks, they are more alert and better equipped to absorb new information. Research conducted by Jensen, E. (2013) suggests that brain breaks can significantly improve high school students' ability to concentrate and engage in classroom activities, leading to improved academic performance.
2. Improved Retention: Engaging in short, active tasks can aid in memory retention for high school students. Brain breaks can be designed to reinforce previously taught material or introduce new concepts in a creative way. In a study by Mahar, M. T., & Murphy, S. K. (2016), it was found that high school students who participated in regular brain breaks demonstrated better retention of learned material over time.
3. Community Building: Many brain break activities, like the Water Maze Challenge, encourage teamwork and collaboration among high school students. These interactions promote a positive classroom environment. According to research by Johnson, D. W., & Johnson, R. T. (2009), cooperative learning experiences, such as those during brain breaks, can enhance high school students' social skills and overall classroom atmosphere.
4. Reduced Stress: Breaks alleviate stress and tension, which can be particularly beneficial for high school students dealing with the pressures of academics and extracurricular activities. A study by Linnenbrink-Garcia, L., et al. (2013) showed that high school students who engaged in regular brain breaks reported lower levels of stress and anxiety, contributing to a more positive learning experience.

Now, let's dive into the specifics of the Water Maze Challenge and how it can benefit your chemistry classroom.

The Water Maze Challenge

Objective: In the Water Maze Challenge, students compete against each other to see who can maneuver a droplet of water through a laminated printed maze using a coffee stir stick.

Materials Needed:

• Laminated printed maze sheets (or place the printed maze in a plastic sheet protector if laminating is not an easy option)
• Coffee stir sticks or toothpicks
• Beaker of water with a drop of food coloring in it
• Plastic pipette or dropper
• Timer or cellphone timer

Instructions:

1. Divide your class into pairs. Note: I like to use this opportunity to have students get to know each other better. I have each partner share one thing they appreciate about the other person or think they are good at. Then I announce to put their game faces on because now they are opponents. I tell them to shake hands and wish their opponent good luck. I ask a "get-to-know-you" question to decide which student goes first. For example, "The person with the most (pets, siblings, shoes, broken bones, etc.) goes first." 

2. Distribute a laminated maze sheet, coffee stir stick, dropper, and a beaker of water (with a drop of food coloring in it) to each pair.

3. Explain the challenge to your students: They must navigate a droplet of water through the maze using only the coffee stir stick. The water droplet at the end of the maze must be at least the size of a pea at the end of the maze. While one the first person is completing the maze, the other person is being the referee to ensure there is no cheating through the maze and timing. Then they will switch and compare times. The person that completes the maze in the shortest time wins.

4. Use the dropper to place a quarter-sized drop of colored water in the "Start" circle. Start the timer, and let the race begin! Repeat for the other person.

5. After the challenge, facilitate a brief discussion about the experience. Ask students how they used their knowledge of states of matter, specifically the properties of liquids (or intermolecular forces, if appropriate to your curriculum) to complete the task successfully. My first unit in chemistry is modeling matter like solids, liquids, and gases. When my students draw a particulate model for liquids, they overlook the attractive forces between the particles in liquid. This brain break does a great job reinforcing the concept that liquid particles stick together through forces of attractions. The only way students could have moved a droplet of liquid water through the maze was if the liquid particles has forces of attractions between the particles. To check for understanding, I ask students to answer the question: "True or False: There are attractive forces between particles in liquids like water. Justify your claim using evidence from the Water Maze Challenge."  

• Extention to try: Compare water with a nonpolar liquid like Hexane in the maze.

Video 1: Student doing the water maze challenge.

Key Learning Points

The Water Maze Challenge not only serves as a refreshing break but also reinforces or introduces important chemistry concepts:

1. States of Matter: Students apply their understanding of the liquid state of matter and the attractive forces between molecules. The challenge illustrates how water molecules stick together, which is a fundamental concept in chemistry. This concept is great to reinforce in the beginning of the school year.

2. Intermolecular Forces: Through discussion, students can explore the concept of intermolecular forces, as hydrogen-bond forces are at play when they manipulate the water droplets. This concept is great to reinforce later in the school year.

Conclusion

Brain breaks like the Water Maze Challenge inject energy and enthusiasm into your chemistry classroom while providing an opportunity to review or introduce essential concepts. They foster community building, promote engagement, and create a positive learning environment. Incorporate brain breaks into your teaching routine to witness students' enthusiasm for chemistry. Happy teaching!

References:

1. Jensen, E. (2013). Brain-Based Learning: The New Paradigm of Teaching. Corwin Press.

2. Mahar, M. T., & Murphy, S. K. (2016). The Effects of Classroom-Based Physical Activity on Student Math Achievement: A Randomized Trial. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 87(2), 140-148.

3. Johnson, D. W., & Johnson, R. T. (2009). An Educational Psychology Success Story: Social Interdependence Theory and Cooperative Learning. Educational Researcher, 38(5), 365-379.

4. Linnenbrink-Garcia, L., et al. (2013). The Nature of Middle School Learners' Interest and Emotion during a Science Performance Assessment. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 38(3), 73-85.