Catherine McCluskey is not your typical chemistry teacher. This innovative educator enhances the content in her chemistry textbook by using a SmartBoard with SAS inSchool® Curriculum Pathways®. These cutting-edge strategies allow her to teach complex processes while addressing the varied learning styles of both visual and auditory learners. McCluskey uses SAS inSchool Chemistry InterActivities to provide engaging learning experiences for her chemistry students.
On a recent visit to McCluskey's classroom, we found her using Acid Base Chemistry, an InterActivity in which students conduct an experiment to determine the concentration of an acid or base. She projects the colorful image of lab equipment, acids, and bases onto the SmartBoard and demonstrates this experiment to the whole class. Her approach provides excellent preparation for hands-on labs, and she thinks it makes her labs safer, too.
"So how much base should we add to the solution, class?" McCluskey asks as she gazes up at the flask projected onto the large screen. "Should we add just a drop or should we let it stream?"
"Stream, Mrs. McCluskey!" several students urge. She smiles and clicks on the stream button. The solution obediently streams into the flask.
"Wow! It just turned red!" students observe. They quickly record notes on their handouts as the experiment continues.
"Class, I want you to notice the titration curve. What is it doing?" McCluskey points to the black chart with neon green numbers. The chart automatically records each drop as it hits the solution, and the green line gradually creeps up the page as it records the process. "Now let's talk about what is happening here. On Monday, I want you to be ready to explain exactly what happens during each segment of a titration. Then you'll be ready to do this on your own when you have your labs next week." Students take notes carefully as the class discusses the titration.
McCluskey also does an integrated math-science project with algebra teacher Susan Andrews in which students study the chemistry of Gas Laws and the mathematics of direct and indirect variations. The project begins with students learning the equations and graphs for direct and indirect variations in their algebra class. The following day, students come to chemistry class and learn about Charles' law and Boyle's law. Next, the students make hot air balloons using the algebra and chemistry principles they've studied.
The grand finale is launch day when chemistry and algebra students meet outside and launch their balloons together. The skies are filled with shimmering dots of vibrant color as the balloons soar upward. The students may not realize how much they have learned, but their test scores show they do not soon forget the concepts they experience in these innovative lessons.
Learn more about Chemistry InterActivities…
Learn more about East Wake High School at their web site: http://ewhs.wcpss.net/ |
