P.A.P.E.R.
Paper Activities Preparing Everyone to Recycle
Summary: Twelve
AP Chemistry students will begin a study of paper-making and recycling paper
with a visit to a pilot paper machine at the Department of Wood & Paper
Science, NC State University. University professors will inform students about
the chemical processes involved in converting wood into pulp for papermaking,
instruct them on how the paper machine operates, discuss with them steps
involved in the paper recycling process and inform them about environmental
issues related to recycling. Back at school, the chemistry students will
continue their study of the science of pulping, papermaking and the recycling
of paper by completing a series of five laboratory activities. After completing the laboratory exercises,
chemistry students will use the recycled paper obtained from their visit to the
university to produce digitally illustrated lab manuals that will instruct 27
fifth graders in the science of recycling paper and the importance of recycling
to the environment. After studying
environmental issues such as pollution and water quality, the fifth graders
will visit the high school chemistry lab.
Partnered with chemistry students, the fifth graders will use the lab
manuals written for them to complete the activities. The recycled paper that the fifth graders make while at the high
school will be used to create note cards on which they will write personal
messages thanking the chemistry students for helping them understand more about
recycling paper and especially about high school chemistry.
Need Statement:
The School Improvement Plan (SIP) states that "Education is a total
community responsibility." This
project will actively address this issue by involving university professors in
facilitating chemistry students in their study of paper science, helping
chemistry students create learning materials for fifth graders and in
instructing the younger students in laboratory activities. The SIP also states
that students will exhibit positive character traits, be involved in the
learning process, and be technologically advanced. The students will create learning materials suitable for fifth
graders based on their personal experiences of learning about paper. Chemistry
students will serve as ambassadors for the high school as they exhibit the
positive character traits of kindness,
responsibility and respect as they work one-on-one with
younger students. Chemistry students
will gain technology experience as they use digital cameras, scanners and
computers to create the lab manuals that the fifth graders will use.
Strength Statement:
·
The University Professors will assist the
chemistry teacher in creating and implementing the five labs that the AP
chemistry students will complete. By
hosting a visit from the chemistry students to the university, they will
intrigue the students in the complexity and importance of recycling paper,
providing them with learning experiences they would not get without
participating in this project. They
will evaluate the lab activities written by the chemistry students for the
fifth graders for scientific correctness and procedural accuracy and safety.
·
The AP Chemistry teacher will provide
expertise in creating activities suitable for the high school chemistry
student. Being aware of the high
school’s lab facilities, safety issues and knowledge of chemistry, the teacher
will guide the chemistry students as they create the lab manuals for the fifth
graders.
·
The Fifth Grade teacher will serve as the
expert in editing the lab manuals, making sure the reading level of the
documents and the hands-on activities are suitable for fifth grade students.
·
By
working with university professors, the teachers will gain the confidence and
knowledge needed to incorporate new and current science technology and topics
into the classroom. As students
witness teachers working cooperatively with one another and university
professors, they will see that learning is a life long enjoyable process and
that each individual has a responsibility in sharing his or her expert
knowledge in order create environments that support unique and exciting
learning environments.
·
The
challenging lab activities will be based on concepts and issues that are
relevant to students’ everyday lives and require them to use technology in
unique ways. Involving the university
professors will allow the high school and fifth grade students to gain
experiences they would not normally receive.
Chemistry students will develop an understanding of how to
scientifically analyze environmental issues rather than to emotionally respond
to perceptions without investigation.
Chemistry students’ understanding and knowledge of science will be
reinforced as they develop learning materials for the younger students. The
fifth graders will gain a greater appreciation for their environment as they
study various environmental issues. The
fifth graders will have the opportunity to visit the high school and see first
hand that and see that science is “cool”, learning is “fun” and that they, too,
can be leaders among their peers and within the community.
Sustainability: The lab activities developed for the chemistry students will be
tried and tested and available for use by other teachers within the
department. All the other chemistry students
will use the equipment this year as they complete a similar study of
papermaking and the recycling of paper.
The lab manuals created for the fifth graders will be available for use
by other elementary school teachers.
The non-consumable materials provided by this project would be available
for future use by the high school and elementary school teachers. The university professors, chemistry teacher
and the fifth grade teacher will present this project at the 2001 NC Science
Teachers Conference.
Methodology:
·
January:
Materials ordered, field trip paperwork completed.
·
January
– March: Collaboration among university professors, chemistry teacher and fifth
grade teacher in development of lab activities.
·
April
– May:
·
Chemistry
students will learn the science of pulping plant fibers and the recycling of
paper by completing a series of five laboratory activities.
·
Chemistry
students visit a pilot paper machine at the Department of Wood & Paper
Science, NC State University.
·
Chemistry
students create lab manuals for fifth graders.
·
Fifth
graders visit the high school chemistry lab.
Partnered with chemistry students, the fifth graders will use the lab
manuals written for them and complete the activities.
·
Fifth
graders will use the paper they recycled to create note cards.
Evaluation:
·
Teachers
and university professors will complete evaluations describing the success of
the project making recommendations for improvements if the project is
repeated. Evaluations will also address
the levels of commitment and cooperation of the teachers, and the extent to
which classroom practices have been enriched.
·
Chemistry students will: (1) be quizzed after
their visit to the university; (2) complete detailed lab reports that will
include critical thinking and application questions for each of the five
activities they complete; (3) describe what they learned form their visit to
the university; (4) produce digitally illustrated lab manuals suitable for
fifth graders according to an outlined grading rubric; (5) be evaluated by the
fifth graders and the fifth grade teacher as to their willingness to help,
knowledge of their subject and enthusiasm for science and learning.
·
Fifth
graders will complete evaluations in which they will describe what they already
know about the recycling of paper
and environmental concerns, what they would
like to learn more about on the topic of recycling of paper, and what they learned after visiting the high school
and completing the lab activities that the chemistry students prepared for
them.
Budget
· Field trip to NC State University
bus driver @ $11.00/hr $88.00
· mileage @ $1.80/hr $108.00
· Field trip to high school
bus driver @ $11.00/hr $22.00
mileage @ $1.80/hr $36.00
· 27 safety goggles for fifth graders $166.00
· cheesecloth $10.00
· 20 blenders $300.00
· 20 irons $300.00
· 2 printers $400.00
· ink cartridges $120.00
· 1 Environmental Stream Table $100.00
· 1 balances $250.00
· 2 hot plates $600.00
Total $2500.00
Revised Budget
· Field trip to NC State University
bus driver @ $11.00/hr $88.00
mileage @ $1.80/hr $138.00
· Field trip to high school
bus driver @ $11.00/hr $22.00
mileage @ $1.80/hr $36.00
· 27 safety goggles for fifth graders $166.00
(a different group of students from another school will be participating this year)
· cotton linter for artist papermaking activities $150.00
(this is for a new activity that students will do that was tried and liked last year)
TOTAL REQUESTED $600.00