UtSTA 2024: Out-Of-This-World Science Teaching

Attendees will experience a lesson where students gather evidence to make and support a claim about whether cotton or spandex is best to wear while river rafting. The lesson aligns to Chem.2.3 and focuses on how the structure of macromolecules affects the functions of those materials. Students will see macro-scale properties of cotton and spandex fibers including water absorbency and a flame test. Students will also experience the structures of the molecules using models and visual aids. This lesson was created through the 3D-RST project as BYU. Lesson materials can be found at 3drst.byu.edu.

The goal of this presentation will be to highlight phenomena that students can observe and explore at home that align with the SEED standards for chemistry.  I will share some ideas about how to get students thinking about chemistry at home, and we will brainstorm more ways to incorporate learning that goes beyond our classroom walls.

We will have supplies for 20 lab station groups. This is for high school science teachers, but could be modified for junior high students as well (even possibly elementary). This data collecting and analyzing process, as well as it's emphasis on energy make this lab applicable to all subjects.

In this very hands-on workshop, teachers will:

Discover the World of Enzymes: Kick off with an introduction to enzymes, their roles in biological processes, and the specifics of catalase activity.

Prepare for Experimentation: Learn how to set up the experiments using easily accessible materials and equipment, ensuring that the activity can be replicated in your own classrooms.

Conduct Experiments: Engage in a series of experiments that demonstrate the effects of various factors on catalase activity, such as pH, temperature, and substrate concentration.

Data Collection & Analysis: Quickly collect real-time data as the experiments unfold. Teachers will practice using simple yet effective methods for recording and analyzing experimental outcomes.

Curriculum Integration: Discuss and plan how to integrate these experiments into your current curriculum, aligning with the Utah Science SEEd standards.