Forums

Forums / Chemistry / Nature of Science

Chemistry

Nature of Science

Author Post
C M Cameron Mackowski 540 Points

As a new teacher, I am constantly trying to make my lessons better and more engaging. One topic that I find the most interesting is the nature of science. The only problem is, I am having a hard time adapting this to a chemistry classroom.

I am wondering if anyone has any ideas they could share with this topic.

Have you done a chemistry lesson over the nature of science? What went well? What didn't?

What advise would you give to a new teacher who wants to break out of the mold in the chemistry room?
Emily Faulconer Emily Faulconer 5755 Points

Cameron - What level do you teach? 

I like to start the class with a nature of science survey. There's an example one here: http://www.indiana.edu/~ensiweb/lessons/sci.tst.html 

Then I send my students to this resource: https://undsci.berkeley.edu/tour.php 

Then we reflect on the answers on the NOS survey to see how their perspectives have changed. 

 

Here are some extra resources you may find useful:

https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/subjects/science/practices-and-nature-of-science/ 

http://web.csulb.edu/colleges/cnsm/depts/scied/esla/documents/ESLA_Resources_Nature_of_Science.pdf

C M Cameron Mackowski 540 Points

Emily,

I teach chemistry at the high school level.

These resources are awesome!! Thank you so much for sharing them! I look forward to working with them a little so I can present them to my students!
Jake Terlecki Jake 895 Points

Cameron,

 

I teach physical science and have had the same issue. I've adapted an investigation where students have to figure out the identity of an object in a box. Look up 'black box lab'. This can be applied to indirect observation in classical particle chemistry. 

 

Later on, I had adapted it for honors students where they had a closed box with a raised design on one side of the box.This could be made with hot glue and scraps. All they had to use as observational tools was a marble inside the box. Students would then roll around the marble to collect data on the design of one of the sides.
Post Reply

Forum content is subject to the same rules as NSTA List Serves. Rules and disclaimers