Polymer Project
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LESSON PLANS created BY: Elizabeth M. Dabrowski Magnificat High School 20770 Hilliard Road Rocky River, OH 44116 email address: edabrows@wviz.org FAX: 216-331-7257 telephone number: 216-331-1572 |
Subject Area: CHEMISTRY
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Grade Level: 9-12
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Estimated Time
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Polymer Chemistry Project |
Materials |
Lesson Plan |
Experiments/ Demonstrations |
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Reports |
Resources and Activities |
At the end of the year, after the AP Chemistry examination has been taken, the students have an opportunity to learn about this cutting edge area of Chemistry. This project can be used by teachers in schools with or without access to the World Wide Web. Students will learn about polymers, their history, their uses and their recycling. Students will also have the opportunity to produce some polymers (slime and gluep) in the laboratory.
Chemicals can be ordered from Flinn Scientific; P.O. Box
219, Batavia, IL 60510-9906, 1-800-452-1261;
Sources of Polymer Samples and Information
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One |
Introduce polymers from textbook |
Two |
More textbook time |
Three |
Time for student library research |
Four |
More textbook time |
Five |
Experiments |
Six |
Time for student research |
Seven |
Experiments |
Eight |
Student Presentations |
Nine |
Student Presentations |
Ten |
Student Presentations |
Eleven |
Examination if desired |
The following are experiments and demonstrations that were done
with the 1995-96 Advanced Placement Chemistry Class at Magnificat
High School.
Sources of chemicals are listed under "Resources/Materials".
Feel free to try any or all of the following.
If you do not wish to proceed with any experiments or
demonstrations, choose "Top of Page".
4% PVA
solution into a paper cup.
Directions are taken from two books published by POLYED
National Information Center for Polymer Education, University of
Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Department of Chemistry, Stevens Point,
WI 54481-3897.
From "Polymer Chemistry Demonstrations and Experiments"
From "Polymers All Around You"
Teacher Preparation:
Color |
White Glue |
Water |
Borax |
---|---|---|---|
Green |
15 mL |
15 mL |
10 mL |
Blue |
15 mL |
30 mL |
10 mL |
Pink |
15 mL |
0 mL |
10 mL |
Yellow |
15 mL |
15 mL |
20 mL |
Procedure:
Goal:
To learn more about the history of polymers, people who discovered
polymers and the uses of polymers--both natural and synthetic.
Project:
Using information from the class textbook, other books, the
library, the World Wide Web or first person interviews with
scientists who work in polymer research develop a presentation for
the class on polymers.
Students may work with a partner or partners (3 people is the
largest group allowed).
Possible Topics:
Presentation:
Students will be allowed 10 minutes to teach their topic to the
class. Students may use the overhead, the board, VCR or the
computer. These presentations can be very straight forward--as if
giving a presentation to fellow researchers, or they can involve
demonstrations or creative presentations. As long as the necessary
information is presented--students are free to make any style of
presentation.
Deadline:
10 days from the assignment of the project.
Sample grade form:
_____ Thoroughness of research (10 points)
_____ Bibliography or citations from the World Wide Web (5
points)
_____ Creativity (5 points)
_____ Accuracy of information (5 points)
_____ Organization and completeness (3 points)
_____ Participation in group (2 points) (To be scored by members of the group.)
Activity #1:
Using the PolyLinks
Web Site (http://www.polymers.com/dotcom/polylink/)
Activity #2:
Visit the Plastics Museum in Italy (http://www.agora.stm.it/museo/) by clicking here and then on the United States Icon on the Web page. Using this Web Site:
Activity #3:
Visit either the Plastics
Museum again or visit GE
Plastics Page,
(http://www.ge.com/plastics/education/gpcomhp.htm) and collect
information to write (using the computer) a one page paper on the
history and properties of polymers.
Activity #4:
Visit The
Introduction to Polymers book site
(http://www.lexmark.com/ptc/book.html) and read about polymers.
You may see questions from Chapters 1, 2, or 3 on the test at the
end of the Unit or on the final examination.
Activity #5:
Visit the PolyLinks
Web Site (http://www.polymers.com/dotcom/pdcmag/slime.html)
and copy the slime recipe to try in the laboratory with the
teacher's approval.
Other Polymer Related Sites to Visit: