Student teachers at Ball State University are required to complete an in-depth unit long data driven analysis of their student teaching called Learning Assessment Model Project (LAMP). I chose to run the project during the stoichiometry unit. Stoichiometry is a unifying topic of chemistry. It synthesizes previously taught topics of writing chemical formulas, calculating molar masses, performing molar conversions, and balancing chemical reaction equations so that students may apply prior knowledge to its fullest use. Stoichiometry is rigorous and challenging for students. My aim was to make this topic both accessible and useful for my students by relating it to their everyday lives. We chose the stoichiometry unit to run our LAMP project in as most students, except possibly those who have taken integrated chemistry and physics, have no experience with stoichiometry. We wanted to see the direct impact that our teaching had upon students. The following is a summary of the project, its outcome and conclusions drawn from it.
Tag Archives: HLP 14
Science Behind the Thanksgiving Day Table
Oftentimes, the last school day before a break is a day of lost instruction. My goal in forestalling this before Thanksgiving was to plan a lesson based around the science of things found on a Thanksgiving Day table. Continue reading Science Behind the Thanksgiving Day Table
Problem-Based Learning: Unit Plan
Students complain that school isn’t relatable. Employers complain that we don’t generate problem solvers. Problem Based Learning answers the complexities of both of these issues in one fell swoop, all the while being aligned to state curriculum standards.
Alexandria received a grant of $335,000 from the state of Indiana as part of the Hardest Hit Fund Blight Elimination Program to help with the demolition of eyesore properties around town. The question remains: was this a good deal for the city? A slideshow outlining the entire project may be viewed at: https://www.emaze.com/@AFRWRLTW/razed-and-rising
Find Me a Solution, Please
The origin of this activity stemmed from myself graduating with a degree in chemistry, without ever calculating or making a 1.0 M solution. I felt that this was a disservice to myself, and vowed that my students wouldn’t have the same experience.
Quality Control of Al Foil Inquiry Lab
When our Chemistry I classes were initially studying the unit of the mole, I wanted to find an activity using real life materials to further relate the mole concept. Initially I thought of using aluminum foil, and found a quality control lab that I liked, so I modified it to include mass measurements and mole conversions. Click here for the complete file download of this activity.
Mole Madness Activity
What’s in a mole? 6.022 EE 23 atoms/molecules for sure, but what does a mole look like? That depends on the molar mass of a given compound. The goal of generating this particular activity was to have students calculate the molar mass of three common household compounds, sugar, baking soda and sodium chloride, and then to measure out the same number of moles of each compound and visually compare the amounts of each compound to see how much space a given amount of moles occupies.
Kinesthetic Chemical Nomenclature Activity
Traditional methods of practicing chemical nomenclature offer little interactivity among students. I attempted to energize this topic by physically engaging the students with beachballs labeled with chemical compound names that were categorized according to naming type, including Type I & II ionic compounds, as well as binary covalent compounds. Names of each category were written on a particular ball, which was then tossed in the classroom from student to student. Whomever caught the ball then had to properly name the compound where their left thumb landed. The activity continued until all 10 compounds on each ball were named. Student feedback was favorable in that they commented on how “fun” the activity was.
Factor Label Conversions Using Marzano Techniques
Introducing and using conversions and the factor label system in the science classroom are traditionally done through lecture based activities. Student engagement in this topic is usually limited to checks for understanding via homework and assessment on quizzes and tests. Utilizing Marzano’s kinesthetic technique, our goal was to physically engage students in groups while simultaneously performing a formative assessment of understanding of these topics.
Continue reading Factor Label Conversions Using Marzano Techniques
Teacher Data Dashboard
Below is my Teacher Data Dashboard connected to InTASC 6, created for EDPSY 699. My Dashboard is an interactive spreadsheet, designed for simple data entry use that yields instant computational responses and graphical representations, both across an entire class as well as for individual students.