DOUGLAS D. SMITH Guilford High School Rockford, lllin~is61111
Here is a small selection of material from the National Science Teachers' Association Convention in Washingtoin, D. C. We hope that you will find it informative.
Two Tips One of the highlights of a convention is the numerous tips you receive conversing with creative teachers. Here are two from the resourceful Elaine Ledbetter 1) In running flame tests, the students have a hard time seeing some
of the colors because they are present for ashorttime. In place of a wire loop, why not use a cotton Q-Tip? The color will be present longer. 2) Parts per million and parts per billion seem to be remote concepts
to students when trying to talk about pollution. A suggestion is to use black ink and see at what point students would consider a solution of water and ink suitable for drinking. A method is to place
one drop of ink in 50 ml of water. You could count the number of drops per ml, hut let's assume 20 drops per ml. Then one drop of ink in 50 ml is one part per thousand. One drop of this solution in another 50 ml of water would he a thousand fold dilution of 1 ppm. Dilution again of 1 drop ppm solution with 50 ml will give 1 PP~.
New Kids on the Block Serendipitous discoveries make conventions fun. Two such discoveries were new exhibitors. No endorsement is intended, hut vou mav wish to write and ask for catalogs. he ~ l e h ~ o d e booth l ' presented th&dimensional models of atoms and molecules that were intended to be used as lab exercises and demonstrations. With magnets in some atom remodels it was uossihle to model hydrogen-bonding, arrangements; structure, and ionic and covalent bonding. Making its initial appearance on the secondary science publishing scene is Heinemann Educational Books C ~ m p a n y . ~ It is new to most American high school teachers, but is familiar in other Darts of the world as the lareest science textbook publisher in United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. It has o r r r 500 texts availahlr for all srienrr levels. One which h ~ g h school chemistry ttw.hers may be interested in perusing is.'A New Certificate Chemisrrv" . 11s . Holderness nnd Lamberr as it has been a best selling text for a number of years. We should be aware that their texts are written for science instruction which has a different organization. An oversim~
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plification would be that starting a t about the age of eleven, the students studv an intearation of ~bvsics,chemistrv, and hen a t the a& oi'thirteen theibegin biology for two a three-year period in which one or more of the sciences is studied (chemistry, physics, biology, or physical science). These are not studied every day, but perhaps two or three times weekly. This study of science would constitute what is called "0" level and would correspond to the content in the American high school courses. There is an "A" or "advanced" level that relates to our Advanced Placement or Introductory College level. "A" level work is essential to a student's university entrance in science with the serious student taking two or more "A" level science courses. Again, the courses are spread over two years.
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t'lrr-0-Modelr, 64 Prrswtt ,\venue, Chelsm, Mnss.,O21X. Helnrrnnnn Edtrcntional Buuks. Inc., 12 Scmrh Rrundway, Salem, New Hampshire. 1
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Free Material ChemEcology is a free publication whose purpose is to give industry a forum to report objectively on environment, energy, and toxicology. A subscription to this free pamphlet is worth
the nrice of a stamD. T o he ~ u ont the mailing list, write to ~ d i i o r~, h e m ~ c o l o ~g a~n, i f a c t u r i nChemists ~ Association, 1825 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009.
New and Unique One of the special sessions was the demonstration of items chosen from the commercial exhibits that were considered new, adaptable, and provocative. Samples of the items relating to chemistry chosen by David Cox, Victor Showalter, and Barbara Thompson are 600 / Jouml of Chemical Education
1) Shampoo Evaluation KiLParco 2) Mendeleev Role Playing Exercise-Central Scientific 3) Digital pH meter-Fisher 4) Novo Enzyme Kit-Caroline Biological Supply 5) Hypothesis Machin-Educational Materials and Equipment Company
New from NSTA "Safety in the Secondary Classroom" is a 100-page booklet aimed at all fields of science. Some chapters especially related to chemistry are: "Eye and Face Protection," "Glassware, Health Hazards," "Storage, Labeling,'' "Disposal of Chemical Waste," "Unstable Substances," and "Laboratory Safety in Chemistry." Every chemistry teacher should become familiar (if they are not already) with the contents of the booklet. One page in particular should be posted in every lab under the title of "Dangerous Combinations." Listed are several compounds, and for each is given the types of materials with which they should not come in contact. "Games for the Science Classroom: An Annotated Bibliography" presents 130 instructional games grouped into the content areas of Biological, Physical, Earth-Space and General Sciences. Each listing provides: title, grade level, purpose, playing time, number of players, price, developer, source, description, preparation, and comments. The authors reportedly ~ l a y e deach game.
"What Research Says to the Science Teacher-Volume L" Six chapters review research reports, suggest areas needing more work, and come to conclusions. Unfortunately, little is presented that will change our daily lessons or weekly plans. Hopefully, future volumes will be aimed a t providing input so the high school chemistry teacher can use the ideas to increase a student's chances of success. The chapters presented are: "Science: A Basic for Language and Reading Development," "Analyzing the Questioning Behaviors of Science Teachers," "How Teaching Strategies Affect Students," "Relating Student Feelings to Achievement," "The Role of the Laboratory in Secondary School Science Programs," and "Learning Experiences from Planned Experiences." 0
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The April, 1978 edition of The English Journal is devoted to "Teaching Scientific Writing." It is an excellent source from the word merchants themselves. Viva cross discipline!
Volume 55, Number 9. September 1978 / 601
