LeRoy W. Haynes and David L. Powell College of Wooster ~ o o s t e iohlo . 44691
II
During the summer of 1974 we shared in the development of a chemistry course for children aged 9 through 12 which was offered through a non-profit community organization, the Wooster Art Center.' In the summer of 1975 we again gave such a course with an announced age range of 10 through 13. The age limits were changed for two reasons. First, 12-year olds from the previous course wished to participate again. Second, and more important in our planning, the subject matter was to he organic chemistry, in contrast to the prior year's emphasis on low level inorganic chemistry. We thought a little added maturity might he helpful. As it turned out, we need not have worried. The three children for whom we stretched the age limit downward worked as well as those who were 10 or 11.In 1974 17 children took the course; in 1975 we had 23. Of these, 11were repeaters. We usually had about five instructors in attendance. Two main emphases of the first version of Kiddie Chem were the recordine of exoerimental observations in lab notehooks thlue book;~ and'rhe usi!~gof experiments which required few directions. hlost of the time the students used one simple testing procedure or technique on a variety of samples. By using such simple experiments which required only verbal instructions, we were able to concentrate on developing the students' ability to be observers and on encouraging them to rrcord their ut,servations crmpletely and carefully. As we set out to plan experiments with an organic slant, wr found that t he kind of experiments which seemed most likely to catrh the studrnts' interest required more directions, thus reducing the rxulumtorv nature wh~rhwe rnio\,ed ~-~ " . in the Kiddie Chem I experiments. Mimeographed instructions also had to be orovided. In eeneral. the exoeriments did not lend themselves to the colleczon of many pieces of data from which a set of conclusions could he drawn. As mieht be oredicted. we had to use a greater variety of equipme& whiih meant more oreanizational and clean-UDtime bv the staff. " After each session the staff members evaluated the experiment from their viewooint and from the amarent resDonse of the students. On thelast day of the cours&e students were asked to fill out an evaluation form indicating whether a particular experiment was "disliked," "liked," or "super." For the individual experiments, brief descriptions will he given of the procedures used and the equipment necessary. Unless noted otherwise, experiments were in the "liked" category, based on a combined evaluation of staff and students.
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Distillation of Impure Water Water was purposely contaminated with methyl orange and sodium chloride. After distillation of the water using a onepiece apparatus with a test tube for a receiver, the distilled water was tested for chloride ion usine silver ion. The students also ohserved whether rh~.omncert;l,,rstayed behind orappcared in the distillare.'l'he students trlt that this exp~riment 11.34 .'super." Sinlplv using a Hunsen hurner was a great exDerience for many of them. 'l'hr main difficulty in this experiment was the Btudents' tendency to distill the mixture too
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PoweLD. L.,Bromund, R. H., Haynes,L. W., McElvany,K. D., and Pedersen, J. D., J. CHEM. EDUC.,52,737 (1975). Hart, H. J. CHEM. EDUC., 36, A501 (1959). 724 / Journal of Chemical Education
Kiddie Chem II A course for children
nb Student performing chmmatography experment. quickly causing mechanical carry-over of the methyl orange and the salt. Introduction to Organic Chemistry Eight organic compounds (amino-acetic acid, benzoic acid, ethyl acetate, ethyl alcohol, naphthalene, 2-propanol, sucrose, and I,l,l-trichloroethane) were tested for solubility in water and ether (done in a hood) and the odors noted. A sheet for recording data was provided. After the students completed the testing, they were given an unknown which was one of the eight compounds. Chromatography Food colors were seoarated (see fie.) usine Petri dishes and filter paper.2 This wa's the most su&essfu
