Tag Archives: HLP 6

Data: LAMP Project

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.

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Solution Riddles

Riddle clues hidden throughout the classroom.
Riddle clues hidden throughout the classroom.

I adapted the http://espace.bsu.edu/akhouck/2015/10/08/find-me-a-solution-please/ lab from Chemistry II for the Chemistry I students to use as a lab in preparation for the end of unit lab practical exam that some students had chosen to take.  Aside from reinforcing solution chemistry calculations, this lab offered more in class practice using volumetric glassware and their associated techniques.  A problem arose when each lab group required 3 volumetric flasks and our room only had a total of 12 flasks available for use.  In order to circumvent extra large lab groups, but still keep students engaged, I composed a nine question problem set involving molarity, molality and dilution caluclations.  In order to solve the problems, students had to answer riddles and find clues hidden around our room.  At each location students solved a particular problem and then moved on to find a the next clue to solve.

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Activity: Conjugate Acid/Base Pairs

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Kinesthetic conjugate acid/base pair cards.

Chemistry II students have sat and listened to a lot of lecture here lately, as we have been covering chemical kinetics and equilibria.  They have been cooperative, using the quadratic formula and solving problems along the way.  However, once we got into weak acid/base equilibria, in particular conjugate acids and bases,  I wanted a kinesthetic activity that would get the students up an engaged.  That was the genesis of this activity.

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States of Matter Sort

Chemistry I students last discussed the states of matter in sixth grade, but they are also used as a discussion lead in to thermodynamics in chemistry.  Because students have experience with states of matter, I wanted to find an engaging way to activate previous knowledge and begin our thermochemistry unit.  I generated a list of eight properties of each of the three common states of matter, printed them on colored sheets of paper, cut them into slips and mixed them together in a bucket.  Then I divided the class into three teams and assigned each team a state of matter to represent and asked them to pull eight random slips from the bucket.  The teams were to discuss amongst themselves whether or not each of the eight slips they pulled out matched their state of matter.  If the group found that some of the slips descriptions didn’t define their state, they were to trade with another group until they found descriptions that did, but not to have more than eight slips at once.

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Best Days: Differentiated Instruction

There was an advanced group of students developing in one section of Chemistry I that began to act out in boredom in class during the Gas Laws unit.  I used pregnant pauses, proximal discipline and even stopped my instruction in an attempt to quell their behavior.  Over one weekend I really thought about how best to approach the situation and I came to the conclusion that that particular group of students simply needed to be given work and then set loose to complete their required assignments.  What was really needed was an equitable assignment for all students, but in multiple versions.  My second attempt at differentiated instruction had begun.

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Balancing Chemical Reaction Equations Using Beads

Kinesthetic activities are one of my favorite ways to engage students in their learning.  We utilized several methods in modeling the art of balancing chemical reaction equations, but one of my favorite activities was balancing reactions using beads.

Balancing equations using beads.
Balancing equations using beads.


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Silvering of Chemis-Tree Ornaments Using Tollen’s Test

Tollen’s Test is a laboratory test used to detect the presence of an aldehyde or keytone functional groups by an oxidation reaction.  The result of a positive test is a precipitation of silver on the inside of the reaction vessel.
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All three of our courses used Tollen’s Test to silver the inside of Christmas tree ornaments during finals week using  this technique.  It was a welcomed break from the rigor of finishing the crunch of assignments for the semester, and a nice memento from our time together.  I do understand that this is a Christian holiday, and that we must be culturally responsive to all religions.  As such,  this may not be an activity appropriate in all settings, or may need to have vessels to silver for students who do not celebrate Christmas.

InTASC standards 5-7-8 were put to work on this task as content was planned for and applied.  HLPs 6 & 13 were also used by the station work and partners that were integral to the success of this lab.  Students really enjoyed completing this lab, and it was a welcomed break from the hectic bustle of Finals Week.  Lots of them decorated the ornaments as gifts, or as mementos from our time together at Alexandria.

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.

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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

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