This session will provide two example wet lab assessments and information
to design one for the general and college/AP chemistry classroom. Both labs were
our summative assessment for our molecular structures unit (topics: polarity,
intermolecular forces, Lewis structures) and our measuring matter unit (topics:
density, metric units, relationship between mass, volume, and temperature). For
the molecular structure unit assessment, students determined the polarity of
acetone, water, ethanol, and vegetable oil by testing solubility, evaporation
rate, surface tension, and drawing Lewis structures. Students wrote a CER to
classify each compound as polar or nonpolar. For our measuring matter lab
assessment, students had an unknown metal or liquid and had to calculate density
and classify the unknown substance and wrote a short CER. Grading can be
traditional or SRG.
TAKEAWAYS:
There are numerous ways to assess besides traditional paper and pencil tests in chemistry. This session will focus on using labs and writing CERs based on lab data as an assessment for concepts.
SPEAKERS:
Kelsey Mescher (Battle High School: Columbia, MO), Stephanie Coyle (Jefferson Middle School: Columbia, MO)