Myidea: Sam Boas, [email protected], Psychology And Pre-medical Studies, Lsa Class Of 2010

myIDEA

FUTURE PROGRAM

Introductory Chemistry at Ypsilanti High

OVERVIEW In our second semester of FUTURE, we wanted to reach out to schools other than Cass Tech in Detroit. This meant that I would have the opportunity to work at nearby Ypsilanti High School. I worked with my peer Brad McManus for Mr. Thomas Ambrose, a chemistry and astronomy teacher. The four classes we were set to teach were the required general chemistry classes. So our lessons and experiments needed to be based on introductory chemistry, using straightforward math, and required teaching concepts from the ground up. Our general goals were to capture the interest of the students, introduce them to several basic chemistry concepts, and connect chemistry to everyday life.

TIMELINE

• January - Arrange teams - Meet Mr. Ambrose • February - Visit Ypsilanti High School to observe class - Arrange and order supplies for lab 1 • March - Implement lab 1 and prepare for labs 2 and 3 • April - Implement labs 2 and 3 - Prepare and give final presentation

Sam Boas, [email protected], Psychology and Pre-Medical Studies, LSA Class of 2010 PROJECT SNAPSHOT

WHAT I LEARNED

Experiment 1: Solubility Rules

• It is difficult to create labs for students who have little QuickTimeª and a background or interest in decompressor are needed to see this picture. the sciences • Resulted in a variety of precipitates • It is important to consider • Experimentally showed solubility the students’ perspectives rules concerning the labs. • Students made rule for OH• Cass Tech and Ypsilanti solubility High are very different Experiment 2: What is a Chemical Reaction? • What was hard? • A series of five My Future in Teaching? reactions - Planning labs • • Each showed a -Keeping students on task FUTURE was an different example of a enlightening experience chemical reaction into the world of education • • Purely qualitative What was easy? • I now recognize the - The labs themselves Experiment 3: challenges and rewards - Having fun Food Calorimetry • Because of this program • The goal was to compare the calories on the package I am now much more open • Was it enjoyable? to the energy directly to the idea of teaching as Of course. In the end, a future career • We made simple the students had fun as QuickTimeª and a calorimeters and tested decompressor they learned, and I did too. are needed to see this picture. marshmallows and chips. • Combined a variety of dissolved compounds in spot plates

QuickTimeª and a decompressor are needed to see this picture.

• Unfortunately, our results were not accurate enough to compare to actual calorie content - We instead discussed why that happened

Partner Information: Brad McManus School Information: Ypsilanti High School Teacher Information: Thomas Ambrose Project Coordinator: Mary Starr