JCE Classroom Activity Research Articles

Creating and Experimenting with Fire Gel, an Inexpensive and Readily Prepared Insulating Material

A method is described to make Fire Gel, an insulating material that consists of water and a superabsorbent polymer. Fire Gel can be used to demonstrate how stunt persons protect themselves from the flame of a fire. A comparison of this Fire Gel demonstration with previously reported flame protection demonstrations allows for instructive discussion. Fire Gel is a useful, easily produced, and inexpensive alternative to the gel described in JCE Classroom Activity #107.

JCE Classroom Activities Virtual Issue: Celebrating 15 Years with the 15 Greatest Hits, 1997–2012

The 15th anniversary of the launching of the JCE Classroom Activity series is highlighted. These hands-on, minds-on activities largely use grocery and hardware store materials to investigate a wide range of chemical concepts. While written for high school students, they are adaptable for use with other levels, from the very young up to adults. The top 15 most downloaded JCE Classroom Activities over the period of one year have been selected as the content of a Journal of Chemical Education virtual issue. This article describes the content and directs the reader to the virtual issue.

Enjoying the Ride

This Especially for High School Teachers article serves as a farewell column for the author as she finishes her term as editor of the precollege chemistry section of the Journal of Chemical Education. The article also discusses the most recent offering in the JCE Classroom Activity series.

Water, Water Everywhere

This Especially for High School Teachers article focuses on several of the ways water is being incorporated into curriculums to highlight this quarter of the International Year of Chemistry, along with the use of JCE Classroom Activities for International Year of Chemistry celebrations. Articles from the March 2011 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education are also highlighted.

Classroom Activity Connections: Lessons from Fluorescence

This Classroom Activity Connections paper describes an extension to the JCE Classroom Activity #68 “Turning on the Light”. A number of additional common items that display fluorescence under UV light are described, including fruits, vegetables, and seashells. Two classroom extensions on fluorescence are also described. From these activities, students should be able to: (i) understand how fluorescence works and (ii) develop an appreciation of the fact that many everyday items can exhibit fluorescence.

Science Underlying 2008 Nobel Prizes

JCE offers a wealth of materials for teaching and learning chemistry that you can explore online. In the list below, Bernadette Caldwell of the Editorial Staff suggests additional resources that are available through JCE for teaching the science behind some of the 2008 Nobel Prizes. Discovering and Applying the Chemistry of GFP The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery and development of the green fluorescent protein, GFP to three scientists: Osamu Shimomura, Martin Chalfie, and Roger Y. Tsien. These scientists led the field in discovering and introducing a fluorescing protein from jellyfish into cells and genes under study, which allows researchers to witness biochemistry in action. Now tags are available that emit light in different colors, revealing myriad biological processes and their interactions simultaneously. Identifying HPV and HIV, HIV's Replication Cycle, and HIV VirusHost Interactions The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology for their discovery of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to two scientists: Francoise Barre-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier; and for his discovery of human papilloma viruses [HPV] causing cervical cancer to one scientist, Harald zur Hausen. Diseases caused by these infectious agents significantly affect global health. While isolating and studying the virus, researchers discovered HIV is an uncommon retrovirus that infects humans and relies on the host to make its viral DNA, infecting and killing the host's white blood cells, ultimately destroying the immune systems of infected humans. Related Resources at JCE Online The Journal has published articles relating to GFP specifically, and more generally to fluorescing compounds applied to biochemistry. The Journal has also published an article and a video on protease inhibitiona strategy to suppress HIV's biological processes. With the video clips, an accompanying guide for teachers includes instructions for three student activities that use enzymes. The resources below may help introduce students to the science behind some of these Nobel Prizes. Turning on the Light: Lessons from Luminescence. O'Hara, P. B.; Engelson, C.; St. Peter, W. J. Chem. Educ. 2005, 82, 49. (See especially the bioluminescence section on page 51 that concisely explains GFP.) JCE Classroom Activity #68: Turning on the Light. O'Hara, P. B.; Engelson, C.; St. Peter, W. J. Chem. Educ. 2005, 82, 48A. JCE Classroom Activity #81: pHantastic Fluorescence. Muyskens, M. J. Chem. Educ. 2006, 83, 768A. Recombinant Green Fluorescent Protein Isoforms: Exercises To Integrate Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, and Biophysical Chemistry. Hicks, B. W. J. Chem. Educ. 1999, 76, 409. C-SNARF-1 as a Fluorescent Probe for pH Measurements in Living Cells: Two-Wavelength-Ratio Method versus Whole-Spectral-Resolution Method. Ribou, A-C.; Vigo, J.; Salmon, J-M. J. Chem. Educ. 2002, 79, 1471. An Attack on the AIDS Virus: Inhibition of the HIV-1 Protease: New Drug Development Based on the Structure and Activity of the Protease and Its Role in the Replication and Maturation of the Virus. Volker, E. J. J. Chem. Educ. 1993, 70, 3. From Chemistry Comes Alive!, five video clips demonstrate properties and mechanisms involved in the chemistry of HIV. HIV-1 Protease: An Enzyme at Work. All articles from Volume 1 to the current issue are available in full-text PDF at JCE Online: Browse by year, month, and page, or choose title and author searching of all issues of JCE

A Colorful Connection for Your Classroom

Since the first JCE Classroom Activity was published in 1997, the Student Activity side of each Activity has listed suggested World Wide Web sites for students to visit. That particular section is currently called Information from the World Wide Web. Sites typically provide additional background information about the specific topics presented in the Activity, information about related concepts, and more activities and experiments to try. A recent JCE article and Especially for High School Teachers column discussed the phenomenon of rot. Links to specific World Wide Web sites can be fairly fluid—a link might change to a different location, or a particular site might die. This discussion raised a qestion in my mind related to the JCE Classroom Activity series: how many URLs remain active on the Activities, particularly the early ones? Linda Fanis of the JCE staff offered to investigate and the result is below. She checked Activities #2 and #22, which are both related to color. She found significa...

Water Filtration: Small Changes Make a Difference

Great ideas for modifications to JCE Classroom Activities often come to light during brief conversations with teachers at conferences and workshops. They may use an Activity in their classroom, but have a couple of suggestions to make it even more effective. This Connections article highlights two such suggestions that teachers shared several years ago during a hands-on JCE Classroom Activities workshop that included Activity #60: Water Filtration.

JCE Classroom Activities #1–50, on CD-ROM

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVTech ReportNEXTJCE Classroom Activities #1–50, on CD-ROMJon L. Holmes View Author InformationUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706Cite this: J. Chem. Educ. 2008, 85, 7, 1006Publication Date (Web):July 1, 2008Publication History Received3 August 2009Published online1 July 2008Published inissue 1 July 2008https://doi.org/10.1021/ed085p1006RIGHTS & PERMISSIONSArticle Views614Altmetric-Citations-LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InReddit PDF (453 KB) Get e-Alerts Get e-Alerts

Pizza, Flowers, and Fish

This issue contains information about the much-anticipated CD-ROM containing the first 50 JCE Classroom Activities.

Using "Blueprint Photography by the Cyanotype Process"

Do you want to try the cyanotype process with your students? That's easy to do! Start with JCE Classroom Activity #19, Blueprint Photography by the Cyanotype Process, by Glen D. Lawrence and Stuart Fishelson (JCE, 1999, 76, 1216A–1216B). In this ready-to-use activity, students create their own cyanotype paper and use it to make blueprint photographs in the sunlight. It's a great way to connect chemistry with art.

No Apple Fool: Biochemistry and Taste

Getting introductory level college and high school students excited about biochemistry can be a challenge. Biochemistry is such a relevant, real-world field of study; without the chemistry constantly taking place in our bodies, no one would be alive! But how can an instructor help students realize how integral chemistry is to the functioning of their bodies when chemistry still seems like a foreign language to them, one that they don't yet know how to speak? The JCE Classroom Activity, Apple Fool! An Introduction to Artificial Flavors, has been the perfect hook to get my students interested in learning more about how biochemistry allows their bodies to function and specifically how it allows us to taste. In the Activity, students make mock applesauce using crackers. It's a surprising approximation of real applesauce (especially with a dash of cinnamon). Students wonder how their taste buds are so easily fooled and this leaves them excited to learn more about the chemistry and biochemistry of taste during the rest of the lesson.

Soda Can Density and Unexpected Results

Reader Donald R. Paulson reports on an unexpected result seen while performing a sink/float test similar to that described in the JCE Classroom Activity Whatever Floats (or Sinks) Your Can, and describes an extension to the Activity. Activity author Michael J. Sanger and JCE editor-in-chief John W. Moore also discuss possible extensions.

Window Cleaner—New and Improved?

A recent coupon advertisement for window cleaner in the Sunday newspaper was reminiscent of a past JCE Classroom Activity. The new product says it offers a cheaper way to clean your windows and is a way to cut down on the number of plastic spray containers you throw away.

Marbling Paper Postcards

Details are provided about using the JCE Classroom Activity Colorful Lather Printing at a science summer camp for 7�15 year old boys.

ACS Sponsored High School Chemistry Clubs

The Education Division of the American Chemical Society is piloting the High School Chemistry Clubs program. The mission of the High School Chemistry Clubs program is to invite, motivate and encourage high school students who are fascinated by the ways that chemistry connects to their world. These clubs are designed to provide fun, authentic, and hands-on opportunities for its members to experience chemistry beyond what is taught in the classroom, to learn about study and career opportunities in the many and varied fields of chemistry, and to provide service for the betterment of their communities. The Education Division provides clubs with a variety of resources including a start-up handbook, club activities (many taken from JCE Classroom Activities), and information about ACS activities such as National Chemistry Week and Chemists Celebrate Earth Day. Club sponsors are encouraged to network on an invitation-only listserv. Since Fall 2005, over 40 clubs have been established across the United States and ...

Use the Journal To Share

JCE Classroom Activity: #62. Color My Nanoworld, by Adam D. McFarland, Christy L. Haynes, Chad A. Mirkin, Richard P. Van Duyne, and Hilary A. Godwin, p 544A. Do you ever wonder about what to teach, when to teach it, how to teach it? Do you always go to a textbook to answer these questions? While there’s nothing wrong with that, dipping into the journals on your shelf will help keep your presentations fresh. Reading journals devoted to teaching is one of the best ways to stay abreast of what others are doing in their classrooms. We hear a lot about the inquiry method, but perhaps you need down-to-earth activities that support inquiry and discovery learning. Do you promote the use of process skills and discovery along with stressing more traditional content? Obviously I can’t answer all these questions, but I can direct you to sources of ideas. Long (pp 462–463) reports on some very interesting feature articles from The Science Teacher, a journal that describes what others are doing in their classrooms to improve science literacy. Clark (pp 466– 467) summarizes practical teaching experiences shared by all science teachers as reported by The Physics Teacher. Sometimes we don’t have time to go to the source, so it is nice when others help do the work! Letting other teachers do some of your work is nice, but remember to contribute your own ideas to the Journal so that they can be shared. It’s a large undertaking to have a publication in an internationally recognized journal, but it’s worth it! A great way to learn how to write for JCE is to attend our JCE Author Workshop, which will be held in Madison, WI, June 14–18, 2004. The workshop leader will be Erica Jacobsen, Associate High School Editor, and you will meet all of the JCE staff and see how an author’s idea is transformed into a printed article. For a brochure and application form, contact Erica at jacobsen@chem.wisc.edu. In the meantime, if you are interested in submitting an article, consult JCE’s Guide to Contributors at http:// www.jce.divched.org/Contributors/index.html. While visiting our Web site, also check out the latest videos of chemical reactions in Chemistry Comes Alive! CD-ROMs (http:// www.jce.divched.org/JCESoft/CCA/index.html). Remember that as a subscriber to the Journal, you have access to many different ideas, ways to enhance and improve your classroom, and have a “textbook” that is continually updated.

The Factor of Time

JCE Classroom Activity: #58. Bath Bubblers, by Mary E. Harris and Barbara Walker, p 1416A. Research provides opportunities for “critical, independent, creative thinking” (p 1367) frequently omitted from the classroom because of the limited amount of time we have to spend with the potential new members of the research world. Our students need to have “global skills before local skills” (Table 1, p 1362), but we also need to culture their natural curiosity and not hinder their intrinsic motivation. One of the best ideas that you can take from this issue of the Journal is that we learn by doing and observing experts practicing their tasks. Even though the cognitive apprenticeship theory directly reflects on graduate-level education, the lessons presented are pertinent to all ages. Students learn by modeling behavior (especially those who want to become teachers). The best teachers will always give constant feedback to their students like a coach who monitors and suggests ways for team members to improve, but again there is the issue of time. The Journal is never without teaching strategies and suggestions, many of which will decrease the time you need to develop dynamic lessons. Some take more time than others to implement, but all are innovative and thought provoking. Seetharaman and Musier-Forsyth (p 1404) suggest an active-learning strategy that can be adapted to any situation and academic level. They refer to this board-based activity as being like a jigsaw puzzle. After students read specific material, have them gather in small groups to discuss their readings. Students are usually less intimidated in smaller groups than they are when sharing their ideas in a large-class situation. Next, bring them back into the whole setting where they can assemble the pieces of the jigsaw. Shy students are now more willing to share with the class after having “tested” some of their ideas within the smaller group. DePierro, Garafalo, and Toomey (p 1408) present another interesting approach to instruction called inquiry teaching. It is the ultimate method in guiding students though the development of concepts (in this case fundamental concepts of force, gravity, mass, and weight). The authors guide us through a Socratic dialog to explicitly show us how to help students get from where they are conceptually to where we would like them to be. This one-on-one meeting of the minds is a learning tool that needs time, but will ultimately prove to be invaluable. Spencer and Lowe (p 1417) present a similar scenario on developing an advanced concept of entropy. These continually questioning dialogues should be shared with students, future teachers, and practicing teachers to help guide them through how to use the time-proven Socratic method of teaching—a great teaching and learning tool. A few other teaching tools in this issue include applications of chemistry in the real world (p 1437), pertinent analogies (p 1403), and a rich source of historical events (p 1393) that help to draw students into the study of chemistry. New Resources and Tips

Featured Molecules: Amylose and Polystyrene

The WebWare molecules of the month are amylose and polystyrene, examined in JCE Classroom Activity #57: Pondering Packing Peanuts Polymers.

JCE Classroom Activities (the editorial office replies)

JCE Classroom Activities (the editorial office replies)