Project Based Learning – Physical Science or Chemistry

Posted by David Wetzel

Project Based Learning Activity

In project-based learning, preparation and planning are the most critical factors for success.

The critical aspect of this formula for success is developing a clear understanding of what students are to achieve when they work on a project.

This is essential so that students can:

develop a suitable plan to achieve a goal.
identify milestones needed to complete the work.
look at solutions that are suitable for the purpose and audience.
consider the feasibility or practicality of these solutions.
based on feasibility, select the solution.
consider and develop a suitable design.
identify the information components critical to success.

Chemistry Project-Based Learning Activity

Through this project, students connect the concept of chemistry and its impact on their everyday lives.

Questions that guide students include:

Are we a product of chemistry?
How has chemistry shaped and changed our society?

The Project

Working in groups, students choose a specific product made today. Specifically, students:

research the origin of the a chemical-based product and the person or persons who invented and when it was first used.
learn about the chemistry underlying the product they selected and study its impact on our culture.
use multimedia tools in the planning, researching, and presentation phases of the project.

Procedures

Students will:

research their product using online and written resources.
conduct a survey or interview experts regarding the societal impact of their selected product.
create a concept map using Freemind or Bubbl.us outlining their research concerning their research process.

Students create:

a research report that compares and contrasts their product in relation to its impact on society.
a poster use Glogster to share their findings.
a video using Animoto regarding their research, which is embedded in their Glogster poster.

Students will:

create a Slideshare presentation of recommendations for alternative solutions for creating the product using environmentally friendly (green) chemicals to decrease the impact on society.

This is an example of a scaffolding project in which students apply chemistry concepts to real-world products and the impact of these chemical processes on society.

The final step is when students use what they learned and apply their new knowledge to predict what would happen if the chemical processes were altered.

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