Summary

In this activity, students will answer questions while watching a video about several exciting scientific developments, including solar cells, 3D printing and micro machines. This video will help students understand that fundamental chemistry concepts are essential to the advancement of science and technology.

Grade Level

High and Middle School

Objectives

By the end of this activity, students should be able to

• Understand some of the challenges that face today’s scientists.
• Explain the renewable energy sources are necessary for the future.
• Indicate that light and heat are both sources of energy that can be used in 3D printing.
• Define a polymer in terms of molecular structure.
• Explain how the shapes of a molecule can be beneficial in medicine.

Chemistry Topics

This activity supports students’ understanding of

• History of Chemistry
• Renewable Energy
• Heat
• Light
• Molecular Structure
• Polymers

Time

Teacher Preparation: minimal

Lesson: 10 - 15 minutes

Materials

• Frontiers of Chemistry Video
• Student Handout
• Projector with Volume
• AACT Student Pass (optional)

Safety

No specific safety precautions need to be observed for this activity.

Teacher Notes

• This video was created with the intention of engaging students in real-world chemistry based examples. It can be used at any point in the curriculum, however using at the start of a course, or specific unit could be valuable.
• The running time of this video is eight minutes and thirty five seconds.
• This video is intended for students to watch, and for teachers to integrate into their curriculum.
• The student questions/answers are presented in sequential order in the video.
• An answer key has also been provided for teacher reference.
• Videos can be shown with the use of a classroom projector, or teachers can generate a Student Pass through their AACT membership to allow students to independently access the video.