Old-fashioned Root Beer: Alternative to Bad Water

The article contains a lot of interesting information about the history of root beer. Making root beer in the science lab helps students learn about a variety of science concepts from acid-... See More

The article contains a lot of interesting information about the history of root beer. Making root beer in the science lab helps students learn about a variety of science concepts from acid-base chemistry to the gas laws. The recipe used in the article calls for yeast, so the biological concepts of anaerobic respiration and sugar fermentation can also be discussed. As with any lab experiment or demonstration using dry ice under pressure, teachers must be very careful to control and eliminate any hazardous conditions that could occur from controlled releasing of any built-up pressure. This activity is one I would not feel comfortable doing with my students. It most definitely sounds like a very engaging activity to help students learn some complicated science concepts.

Engaging Students With Inquiry and Fun

The lab activity presented in this article is a traditional root beer lab that adds the components of using local ingredients and recycling as well. Nonalcoholic root beer is brewed in the ... See More

The lab activity presented in this article is a traditional root beer lab that adds the components of using local ingredients and recycling as well. Nonalcoholic root beer is brewed in the lab using dry ice. Figure 1 provides a list of student inquiry questions. This lab demonstrates biological and physical science, promotes environmental awareness, and involves an inquiry approach as well. This article presents all the steps for a fun, interesting and engaging activity for a teacher demo or even student activity. Using dry ice does involve special safety precautions.