I started teaching the Gas Law unit lacking inspiration. I have always considered the Gas Laws to be rote and uninspiring. My first period unit opening lesson was less than engaging. After class Mr. Smith asked me how I thought it went I said that it was less than ideal. After some discussion, and finding a vacuum pump, I scrapped my lecture plans in favor of performing Gas Law demonstrations.
I began the Gas Laws unit wondering how to present Gas Law equations in a more engaging way. Mr. Smith suggested that we approach the discussion from an inquiry perspective using the new DataHub instruments at the school. We had used the DataHub during Gas Laws in Chemistry II, so I modified an activity that had been used with them to present and derive the Gas Laws for Chemistry I. The following data table was generated for student data collection during the in class demos: Gas Law Investigation
