Using the Misuse of Science to Teach Biology and Chemistry

1. Using the Misuse of Science to Teach Biology and Chemistry

2. The Misuse of Science • Making critical thinking a part of a biology and chemistry Class Jeff Orlinsky Warren High School Jeff Bradbury Cerritos College

3. Our Goal: To demonstrate how you can use the misuse of science, especially the misappropriation of science terminology, as a jumping off point to teach biology and chemistry concepts.

4. Making Things Relevant • Science classrooms are more than content. • Students need to experiment, draw conclusions. • Manipulate variables. • Why use mass media? • Introduce Critical Thinking skills • We are not introducing new labs, just a different way to incorporate the labs

5. Mass Media • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUhBT40skLw

6. Misuse: • “pH Balance”

7. pH- Acids-Bases • Chemistry • Buffers • pH • Titration labs • Biology • Skin Bacteria growth • Selection media.

8. Buffers are critical for maintaining a constant pH of important solutions like the ocean or the blood stream, although the pH may not necessarily be constant 7 or neutral. A buffered pH can be at any level depending on the components of the buffer. used.

9. pH paper with acid, neutral and base solutions unbuffered

10. pH paper with acid, neutral and base solutions buffered at pH 5

11. pH paper with acid, neutral and base solutions buffered at pH 9

12. Misuse:“pH Balance”A Better use:Buffers

13. Misuse:“pH Balance”A Better use:BuffersLearning Experience:Buffers

14. Misuse: • “Energy Drinks”

16. Biology • Calorie lab • Food Chain activities • Chemistry • Calories Lab Calories

17. Misuse:“Energy Drinks”A Better use:Calories

18. Misuse:“Energy Drinks”A Better use:CaloriesLearning Experience:Calorimetry with a peanut

19. Measuring the calories in a peanut

20. Misuse: • “Chemical Free”

21. Chemical Free

22. Chemical Free

23. Misuse:“Chemical Free”A Better use:All matter is made of atoms and compounds

24. Misuse:“Chemical Free”A Better use:All matter is made of atoms and compoundsLearning Experience:My Pet Molecule & Dihydrogen Monoxide

26. Chemicals in the system • Biology • Geochemical systems • Elements and biochemistry activities

27. Misuse: • “Pure Vinegar”

28. Misuse:“Pure Vinegar”A Better use:Solutions

29. Misuse:“Pure Vinegar”A Better use:SolutionsLearning Experience:Investigating Solutions

30. Misuse: • “Artificially Flavored”

31. Misuse:“Artificially Flavored”A Better use:“Synthesis”

32. Misuse:“Artificially Flavored”A Better use:“Synthesis”Learning Experience:Synthesizing pentyl acetate (Banana Oil)

33. Misuse: • “Organically Grown”

34. Misuse:“Organically Grown”A Better use:“It’s all Organic Chemistry!”

35. Misuse:“Organically Grown”A Better use:“It’s all Organic Chemistry!”Learning Experience:Building Molecules

36. Misuse:“Organically Grown”A Better use:“It’s all Organic Chemistry!”Learning Experience: Which is the toxic molecule?

37. Misuse:Food Labels

38. Food Labels • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4EqRZPxncg

39. Food Labels • Chemistry • Non dairy fillings • Biology • Peanut butter and oil

40. Arsenic • Organic to inorganic • Arsenic and valence electrons • inorganic arsenic, reduced (trivalent As (III)) and oxidized (pentavalent As(V) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV5z-hEqjDw • 9/2011

41. What’s in a name?