Introduction to Engineering: 1.A.III Chemical Engineering Grade Level 1 Sessions Seasonality Instructional Mode(s) Team Size MA Frameworks WPS Benchmarks Key Words Session I: What do chemical engineers do? 25 minutes Session II: Slime 45 minutes N/A Whole class N/A Skills of Inquiry 2. Tell about why and what would happen if? 6. Discuss observations with others. Technology/Engineering 1. Materials and Tools 1.3 Identify and describe the safe and proper use of tools and materials to construct simple structures 01.SC.IS.02 01.SC.IS.06 01.SC.TE.03 Chemical engineer, slime Summary This lesson will teach students about chemical engineering. They will learn what chemical engineers do and each student will get to make their own slime to demonstrate a chemical process. Learning Objectives Massachusetts Frameworks for Grades Pre K-2 Skills of Inquiry 2. Tell about why and what would happen if? 6. Discuss observations with others. Technology/Engineering 1. Materials and Tools 1.3 Identify and describe the safe and proper use of tools and materials to construct simple structures 2002 Worcester Public Schools (WPS) Benchmarks for Grade 1 01.SC.IS.02 Tell about why and what would happen if? 01.SC.IS.06 Discuss observations with others. - 1 -
01.SC.TE.03 Identify and describe the safe and proper use of tools and materials (e.g., glue, scissors, tape, ruler, paper, toothpicks, straws, spools) to construct simple structure. Additional Learning Objectives 1. Know what chemical engineers do. Required Background Knowledge 1. Introduction to engineering Sparky s Engineer 1.A.I Essential Questions 1. What is a chemical engineer? 2. What types of problems do chemical engineers help to solve? 3. What do chemical engineers make? Introduction / Motivation Ask students if they can remember what a chemical engineer is. See if any of the students can give examples of what types of problems they solve or things they make. Procedure Session I: What do chemical engineers do? 25 minutes Instructor preparation: 1. Print out the attached pictures of an air filter, frozen pipes, and a rocket. 2. Photocopy one What Do Chemical Engineers Do? handout for each student. The instructor will: 1. Show the attached pictures of an air filter, frozen pipes, and a rocket. For each picture have the students identify what the object is and what it is used for. - 2 -
2. Explain that chemical engineers help design rocket fuel, pipes that don t freeze in the winter, and air filters to make the air cleaner. They also help to make plastics and create new pollution control technologies. 3. Distribute the What Do Chemical Engineers Do? handout to students and have them complete it. 4. Review the handout with students to ensure that they understand what chemical engineers do. Session II: Slime 45 minutes Instructor preparation: 1. Gather water, glue, Borax, gloves, measuring cups, tablespoon, plastic spoons, plastic sandwich bags, and containers for students. Each student will need 2 containers. The containers should be labeled A and B or should be different colors and should be at least 1 cup in size. Yogurt cups or other similar containers work well. 2. Measure out ¼ tablespoon of Borax for each student and place it in container A. The instructor will: 1. Distribute water, glue, measured Borax, gloves, plastic spoon, plastic sandwich bag, and two separate containers to each student. Distribute 1 measuring cup for every 3-4 students. - 3 -
2. Have the students put on their gloves. 3. Have the students measure 2 ounces (1/4 cup) of water and pour it into container A. Instruct the students to use the plastic spoon to dissolve the Borax into the water. 4. Instruct the students to measure 1 ounce (1/8 cup) of water and pour it into cup B. Have them measure 1 ounce of glue (1/8 cup) and also pour it into cup B. Use the spoon to scrape out any excess glue from the measuring cup. Have the students stir the water/glue mixture until the glue is dissolved. 5. If using food coloring, add the color of the student s choice to cup A for each student. 6. Instruct the students to pour the contents of cup A into cup B and stir. Slime should start to develop. 7. Once no more slime is being formed, instruct students to take off their gloves and take the slime out of the container. They should play with it with their hands. It may be watery and sticky at first, but it will be more of a putty consistency once it has been handled for a few minutes. 8. Have students store the slime in the plastic sandwich bag. Materials List Materials per class Amount Location Pictures of what chemical One Attachment section engineers make Food coloring Per teacher s Craft store/grocery store discretion Measuring cup 1 for every 3-4 students Grocery store Materials per student Amount Location Water 2 ounces per student Sink Water 1 ounce per student Sink Borax 1/4 Tbsp. per student Grocery store Glue 1 ounce per student Craft store Plastic sandwich bag 1 per student Grocery store What Do Chemical 1 per student Attachment section Engineers Do? handout Gloves 2 per student Craft store - 4 -
Container (approximately 1 cup in size) 2 per student Craft store/grocery store Vocabulary with Definitions 1. Chemical Engineer a person who design filters to make the air cleaner for us to breathe, use chemicals to make rocket fuel, and develop pipes that don t freeze in the winter. Assessment / Evaluation of Students The instructor may assess the students in any/all of the following manners: 1. Ask questions about what chemical engineers do. 2. Ask questions regarding what would happen if you added too much of water/borax or water/glue mixtures. Would it be the same consistency? Would it be more wet or more dry? Lesson Extensions None Attachments 1. Air filter picture 2. Frozen pipes picture 3. Rocket picture 4. What Do Chemical Engineers Do? worksheet 5. Slime recipe Troubleshooting Tips None Safety Issues Students should be supervised at all times. Additional Resources None References for Lesson Plan Ideas Slime - 5 -
http://www.madsci.org/experiments/archive/878680114.ch.html References for Pictures Air filter unit http://www.oreck.com/air-purifiers/air8.cfm?keycode=ck690 Air filter http://www.pall.com/images/pall_cabin_air_flt.jpg Frozen pipes http://www.jetterclean.com/images/kasota-pipe2.jpg Rocket http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/images/rocket.jpg Plastic, Car, Buildings, Pipes, X-Ray, Light Bulb, Rocket, and Computer - Microsoft Word Clip Art Key Words Chemical engineer, slime - 6 -
What Do Chemical Engineers Do? Name: Directions: Below are 8 objects. Circle the ones that chemical engineers help make. Plastic Car Buildings Pipes X-Ray Light bulb Rocket Fuel Computers
Slime Recipe (http://www.madsci.org/experiments/archive/878680114.ch.html) Materials: 1. ¼ tablespoon Borax 2. 2 containers (that will fit at least 1 cup in volume) 3. 3 ounces of water (1/4 cup + 1/8 cup = 3 ounces) 4. 1 ounce of glue (1/8 cup) 5. Food coloring (optional) 6. Plastic spoon Procedure: 1. Measure out ¼ tablespoon of Borax and place in container A. 2. Measure 2 ounces (1/4 cup) of water and pour it into container A. Use the plastic spoon to dissolve the Borax into the water. 3. Measure 1 ounce (1/8 cup) of water and pour it into cup B. Measure 1 ounce of glue (1/8 cup) and also pour it into cup B. Use the spoon to scrape out any excess glue from the measuring cup. Stir the water/glue mixture until the glue is dissolved. 4. If using food coloring, add the color to cup A and stir. 5. Pour the contents of cup A into cup B and stir. Slime should start to develop. 6. Once no more slime is being formed, take the slime out of the container. Play with the slime with your hands. It may be watery and sticky at first, but it will be more of a putty consistency once it has been handled for a few minutes. 7. Store the slime in the plastic sandwich bag.