edited bv LINDAWOODWARD The University of Southwestern Louisiana Lafayene. LA 70504
chemistry for kids Evening Polymer Programs To Pique the Interests of Youngsters and Adults
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Linda woodward' University of Southwestern Louisiana P.O. Box 44370 Lafayene,LA 70504 Mary Ann Bernard Lafayette Natural History Museum Lafayene, LA The evening polymer workshops described in this paper are a joint effort of the Department of Chemistry at the IJniversitv of Southwestern Louisiana. the Lafavette Natural ~ i s t o r yMuseum, and individual khools i n i h e ~ c a d i ana area.2 A major goal of this project is to give fourth-, ffth-, and sixth-grade students the opportunity to experience interesting hands-on science and to do so outside the classroom. At the same time, we want to encourage the interaction of children and adults. By stimulating a n interest in science and encouraeing. further exoloration bevond the one workshop, we hope co increase h e chancesof young students' develooine a oositive attitude toward science and a wntinuing interest in it. We also introduce both the students and their parents (or other adults) to the interesting world of synthetic polymers. Despite the economic importance of manmade oolvmers, consumers know little adout them. Just a few df t6e many uses are discussed. Polymer recycling codes are explained and participants are informed about local plastics recvcline. w e use the "trick" of skewering a balloon without bursting. it to (1)introduce the idea of lone oolvmer strands and to1(2) separate "magic" and scienlck. '?he synthesis of GLUEP, a non-Newtonian fluid, from a variety of recipes is used to show the relationship between amounts of ingredients and the properties of a product a s well a s how a scientist might go about finding the "best" product. Modeling of the cross-linking usine t h e "voung. students a s - process . monomers helps everyone to understand what is happening ( I ) . The active ingredient in superabsorbent diapers, sodium polyacrylate, is investigated and provides an example of the multiple uses of a single polymer or group of similar polymers. Several demonstrations complete the A
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Literature Cited 1. Sarquis,A. M J Chpm Educ 1986.63.6B41
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- w e feel that we have, within the limitations of a single contact, succeeded in our goals. The participants are very
'Author to whom correspondenceshould be addressed. 2Fundingfor printing and supplies has been provided by the American Chemical Society though an "Improvingthe Public Perception of Polymers'' grant from the Industrial Sponsors Group of the Polymer Chemistry Division and a Parents and Children for Terrific Science (PACTS) grant from the Prehigh School Science mice. All time is donated. 3For information on Wonderscience, write to the Prehigh School Science Office, American Chemical Society, 1155 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036.
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enthusiastic. The questions they ask during the workshops indicate a high degree of involvement and interest. This is a s true of the adults a s it is of the students. The evaluations completed a t the end of the workshops indicate a n interest in doinemore science exoeriments. w e encourage this by sending home complete instructions, materials from the workshop, supplies for a n additional activity (Grow-&-Shrink Creatures), and a n order form for WonderScience3 (the ACS and AIP publication of physical science activities for children and adults to do together). I t is difficult without further followuo to determine whether there is any lasting impact. The increase i n knowledee about ~. o l.v m e r sis shown clearly hy the evaluations. I.& than a third of the particioants com~letinrrthe evaluations during the 1991-1992 school saidihat they knew anything about polymers prior to the workshop and all stated that they had learned new thin@ ahout polymers. Please contact the authors ifyou are interested in learningmore a h u t these workshops. Wecan providea detailed write-up including organization, publicity, maLerials and supplies needed and where to get them, the handout, and the particulars of the evaluation.
Journal of Chemical Education
Science is Fun! A. M. ~ a q u i s and ' B. R. Kibbey Miami University Middletown Middletown, OH 45042 E. C. Smyth Lemon-Monroe High School Monroe, OH 45050 Established i n 1987 with the support of the Ohio Board of Regents, Miami University, the Cincinnati Section of the American Chemical Society, and several private sector gifts, Science i s Fun! (SiF) has directly involved over 25,000 students in its nontraditional science enrichment programs and more than 800 teachers in teacher enhancement activities. The goal of the program is to involve Ohio's pre-college students and teachers in exciting hands-on science Droerams and classroom activities. I n November 1992,'~ie'wasawarded State Model Program status from the Kisenhower Program for Mathcmatics and Science Education, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Kducation, Office of Education Research and Improvement. While the three major student target three different age groups, older students are encouraged to take on presenting and mentoring roles with younger SiF participants. This student-to-student mentoring provided positive learning experiences for both younger and older stud e n t s (including encouraging t h e older s t u d e n t s to consider teaching a s a possible eareec) A brief description of these student programs is provided below. 'Author to whom correspo~denceshould be addressed.
