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Grades: 9-12
Author: Rita McMillen
Source: This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. EEC-1161732. Video source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TK2MnXwtuc
Students will learn what a polymer is and some uses of polymer materials in science. The student will research the polymer sodium polyacrylate. The student will then use inquiry and design a series of tests with given materials to see which brand of diaper will be best for the city hospital to use. Students will have to interpret their results and data to formulate this plan. They will write their results in a letter and will present their results to the class.
What should students know as a result of this lesson?
What should the students be able to do as a result of this lesson?
Engagement:
Amounts will vary based on class sizes and lab group sizes.
Engagement
Show students the you tube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TK2MnXwtuc. It is on You Tube and is called: No Waste from Diapers (3 min 57 seconds)
Teacher will then start class by asking students to make a 2 column list. On the left side column, students will be instructed to list items that you recycle and on the right side column students will list items you use that you could recycle.
Assessment: Brief sharing of some of the student's lists with a classroom discussion about why we recycle and why we don't.
Pass out computers to each student.
Students will answer pre-lab questions by themselves and use the computer to find any information they may not already know.
Assessment: Assessment will be ongoing throughout.
Teacher will check (">answer sheet) each pre-lab question and help guide students if they see the student is off base with their research
Exploration
Students will read the lab scenario and look at the material list. They will then need to formulate tests and write a procedure and test it.
Assessment: Assessment will be ongoing throughout.
Teacher will check each procedure and give the okay for the lab group to proceed. Teacher will circulate throughout the room and guide groups with questions as they carry out their experiments.
Explanation
Students will present their report to the Bulldog Hospital and will try to "sell" why their decision is the best investment for the hospital. The Bulldog Hospital panel will be the other students in the classroom and the teacher.
Extension: You could invite other teachers/administration in to act as the hospital panel.
Assessment: Presentation will be assessed by rubric - Diaper Dilemma Oral Presentation Rubric.
Elaboration
Student will create a formal letter written from their company to the hospital. It will tell the hospital their decision and it will have data to support their decision.
Assessment: Letter will be graded by rubric - Diaper Dilemma Letter Rubric.
Students should know what a polymer is and should have previously studied polymers.
Students should understand polarity and hydrogen bonding.
Students should know lab safety rules and how to use the equipment presented in this lab.
NGSS Standards:
Common Core Standards:
National Standards:
Ohio Standards:
Students will need to understand ions and ionic solutions.
Students will need to know how to write a formal letter and how to make a formal letter on a computer.
Students will need to know how to research on the internet.
Polymers are used every day in the real-world and students should see the connections with certain products they use in their everyday life. Students should also see that there is an environmental problem with the waste management of solids and should develop some ideas of how we should deal with this.
Assessment will constantly be ongoing throughout as teacher observes and talks with different students.
Assessment will also occur after the pre-lab questions and after students devise lab procedures.
Assessment will also occur after the students write their letter (by rubric) and by presentation (by rubric).
Grouping Suggestions I typically have 2 to 3 students per group. Pick four different brands of disposable diapers and look up the cost of each brand. You will need to provide students with this information. Use current costs of diapers so the lesson is more relevant to students. Cut out the padded section of the disposable diaper. Cut the diapers ahead of time into equal squares. (10 cm is big enough and you can cut them smaller)
Pacing/Suggested Time: Days listed here are based on 44 minute class periods. Day 1 and half of Day 2: Engagement; Half of Day 2 and Day 3: (You may also need a 4th or 5th day here depending how many investigations the students complete) Exploration; (You can adjust the rubric based on how many tests you want the students to complete on the diaper brands.); Day 4: Elaboration; Day 5: Explanation
Diaper Dilemma Pre-Lab Questions
