In the face of an increasingly severe global climate change situation, carbon neutrality initiatives have been included in the development action plans of many countries around the world. The carbon neutrality vision will also accelerate the revolution in the energy systems of countries around the world, injecting new vitality into the upgrading…

Many students consume energy drinks without knowing or thinking about the adverse side effects. The purpose of this article is to share student procedures and results after testing the effects of a popular energy drink, Red Bull, on Dugesia Dorotocephala planarians (flatworms). Planarians are animals with neurotransmitters systems that are similar…

In honor of the 2014 International Year of Crystallography, the first Wisconsin Crystal Growing Competition was successfully organized and conducted. High school students from 26 schools across the state competed for prizes by growing large crystals of CuSO[subscript4]·5(H[subscript2]O). This paper describes how the event was planned and carried…

With one week to go, Year 12 chemistry made their final practical an event to be remembered. We decided to take that infamous Periodic Table to the next level, transforming it into an edible table! Armed with 114 biscuits, multiple tubs filled with coloured icing, plastic knives, and gloves and "Professional" piping bags, we converted the science…

In general, laboratory experiments focus on traditional chemical disciplines. While this approach allows students the ability to learn and explore fundamental concepts in a specific area, it does not always encourage students to explore interdisciplinary science. Often little transfer of knowledge from one area to another is observed, as students…

The green chemistry course taught at Westminster College (PA) incorporates nontraditional teaching techniques and texts to educate future chemists about the importance of using green chemistry principles. The course is designed to introduce green chemistry concepts and demonstrate their inherent necessity by discussing historical missteps by the…

Bristol ChemLabS, the UK's Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in practical chemistry, delivers numerous outreach activity days per year for thousands of primary school pupils annually. These mainly comprise demonstration assemblies and hands on workshops for pupils in the main. The activities support the UK's Key Stage 2 science…

We developed an interactive exercise to teach students how to draw the structures of the 20 standard amino acids and to identify the one-letter abbreviations by modifying the familiar game of "Hangman." Amino acid structures were used to represent single letters throughout the game. To provide additional practice in identifying…

This guided inquiry activity was developed to help students "view" an equilibrium system from the particulate level and make connections to their macroscopic observations. Part I helps students observe a physical equilibrium system in which water is transferred between two larger containers. In Part II, students examine what happens to a chemical…

This teacher module provides background information and resources to the Annual Duracell/National Science Teachers Association Scholarship Competition Invention Challenge for high school students. Contents include: (1) "Introduction to the Competition"; (2) "Tips for Motivating Students"; (3) "Preparing for Inventing"; (4) "Teaching Invention:…

Describes a project where students visit, evaluate, and report on chemistry web sites. Discusses implementing the project, problems with the process, and results and rewards. Includes the evaluation form used and lists students' top chemistry sites. (JRH)

Describes a project that enables students to apply their chemical knowledge and business sense in a real-world activity. Involves forming companies that compete against each other to produce two pounds of the best quality soap. (JRH)

Describes an activity that allows students to design and build a craft whose propulsion is derived entirely by the carbon dioxide produced in the chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar. (ZWH)

IDEAS FOR SCIENCE INVESTIGATIONS FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE DESCRIBED. IN PART I THE STUDENT IS INTRODUCED TO THE IDEA OF THE PROJECT-TYPE INVESTIGATION AND IS GIVEN A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE MANUAL. A SECTION WHICH IS WRITTEN FOR THE TEACHER INCLUDES A DISCUSSION OF (1) EDUCATIONAL VALUES DERIVED FROM INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATIONS, AND (2) THE…