Chemical Education Today
Reports from Other Journals
The Science Teacher: Winter Break, 1999 by Steve Long
TST Featured Articles
The traditional winter break will begin soon for many of us. This holiday time may allow you an opportunity to review your professional readings. This feature focuses on selected articles with a chemistry emphasis. The April 1998 issue of TST contained no articles with specific chemistry content. However, there are general articles in the issue (TST 1998, 65(4)) concerning pedagogy, learning theory, and an emphasis on careers. The cover photo, first place winner in the photography contest, shows students viewing an illuminated crystal model with a periodic table in the background. “Density in a Bottle” by Charles Roser and Catherine McCluskey (TST 1998, 65(5), 21–23) investigates a product of the Clearly Canadian Beverage Corporation, Orbitz. The article discusses the authors’ use of this unique beverage to study density concepts. A student activity page for analyzing both density and suspensions is included in the article. Another article using Orbitz as an unusual material to capture students’ attention was recently published in ChemMatters (1). Also, this Journal recently published an interesting companion to this study of soft drink density (2). Henderson, Fenn, and Domijan describe a method of preparing known aqueous sugar solutions from 0–15% by mass. A comparison of the unknown soft drink density with the known densities is made. The activity is appropriate for high school students. “Integrated Constructivism” by Ronald Rita (TST 1998, 65(5), 24–27) promotes open-ended laboratory experiments and encourages student inquiry. The article includes brief sections on gas laws and a comparison of the chemistries of clam and egg shells. Constructivism is a concept that is not strongly emphasized in the minds of many teachers. Jones, Buckler, Cooper, and Straushein wrote in this Journal (3) about their efforts to better prepare preservice teachers for constructivist activities. Their methods might prove useful to you too.
“Density in a Bottle” by Charles Roser and Catherine McCluskey (TST 1998, 65(5), 21–23) “Integrated Constructivism” by Ronald Rita (TST 1998, 65(5), 24–27) “Express Electrolysis” by Dennis Smithenry, Christopher Gassman, Brandon Goodridge, and Tom Petersen ( TST 1998, 65(5), 44–45) “Sweating—The Details” by Leon Borowski (TST 1998, 65(7), 20–24) “Shoebox Spectroscopy” by David Clarke (TST 1998, 65(6), 28–31)
Electrolysis is an activity many teachers incorporate into their classes. “Express Electrolysis” (TST 1998, 65(5), 44– 45) is an article written by a teacher and three high school students. Dennis Smithenry, Christopher Gassman, Brandon Goodridge, and Tom Petersen detail their attempt to increase the rate of electrolysis, so that a better demonstration of this concept could be illustrated within a single class period. If you do not have the apparatus to perform electrolysis, a lowcost electrolysis apparatus was described by Suzuki in this Journal (4 ). This might be an opportunity to introduce a new demonstration in your course. The entire issue of TST for September 1998 (TST 1998, 65(6)) focuses on national standards in science. While the articles are not specifically directed at chemistry, all of them interpret and assist in implementing the National Science Education Standards (5 ) in the classroom. Most classroom teachers need help in both understanding and using the standards in planning instructional activities. There is little time in the average teacher’s day to read and interpret the NSES. These articles may provide a brief glimpse at incorporating standards-based instruction into your teaching. The topic of chemistry and NSES is addressed in a recent ACS Education Division publication (6 ). Also, this Journal has featured articles and editorials focusing upon the national standards (7, 8). “Sweating—The Details” by Leon Borowski (TST 1998, 65(7), 20–24) uses students’ natural interest in exercise and the human body to investigate problem solving. Students study exercise and the accompanying dehydration as a vehicle for solving problems that include conversions, percents, energy calculations, and dimensional analysis. In the same issue, David Clarke (TST 1998, 65(6), 28–31) writes about “Shoebox Spectroscopy”. Clarke details a brief explanation of the theory and mathematics of visible-light spectroscopy. He provides general instructions and a diagram to construct a simple spectrometer, using a He–Ne laser pointer as the light source. An experiment using the simple spectrometer to analyze a solution of food dye is included in the article. Clarke claims that the sample data he collected from his inexpensive spectrometer is comparable to that of other quantitative laboratory experiments. The excitement of students constructing and using their own spectrometer may compensate for the additional time required for construction and for any loss of accuracy. Enjoy the winter break. Curl up with your stack of reading materials and check out a few of these suggestions. Happy reading! Note The Science Teacher (TST ) is a publication of the National Science Teachers Association, containing articles of general interest for high school science teachers. The publicacontinued on page 18
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Chemical Education Today
tion is available from NSTA with a membership. You can contact NSTA in Washington, DC at 1-800-722-NSTA. Literature Cited 1. Graham, T. ChemMatters 1997, 16(3), 6–9. 2. Henderson, S. K.; Fenn, C. A.; Domijan, J. D. J. Chem. Educ. 1998, 75, 1122. 3. Jones, L. L.; Buckler, H.; Cooper, N.; Straushein, B. J. Chem. Educ. 1997, 74, 787.
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4. Suzuki, C. J. Chem. Educ. 1995, 72, 912. 5. National Science Education Standards; National Research Council, National Academy Press: Washington, DC, 1996. 6. Chemistry in the National Science Education Standards; American Chemical Society Education Division, Washington, DC, 1997. 7. Moore, J. W. J. Chem. Educ. 1998, 75, 391. 8. Crosby, G. A. J. Chem. Educ. 1996, 73, A200.
Steve Long teaches at Rogers High School, Rogers, AR 72756;
[email protected].
Journal of Chemical Education • Vol. 76 No. 1 January 1999 • JChemEd.chem.wisc.edu
