Chemistry in the real world

I have been on the mailing list for Compound Interest for a while now. It is a website that tracks chemical progress in the academic science world I find it useful as a filter for finding real world applications of chemistry that I can illustrate to my students.

 It also creates useful infographics of scientific and specialist chemical processes. In the past I have colour printed and laminated some of their infographics into posters for my wall, but I don't have enough space for them all, and the Science Department doesn't have the printing budget for me to continue to do so with every poster. I will continue to do so with the really useful ones, but I have been thinking about ways to showcase the varied and interesting things that Chemists do.

I now have a spot on my wall where I black and white print the weekly mailer titled "This Week In Chemistry". The spot is by the door where it is easy to browse at the end of the lesson, and is passed by each student as they leave.

In addition when an infographic about chemical research comes into my mailbox, rather than colour printing I am setting as the new wallpaper for the projector screen. In this way I can change it regularly without reference to cost.

Science as a junior option/ Science Fair Prep

I had a brainwave while talking to students about their options subject in the midst of an experiment into starch and photosynthesis.
Students enjoy practical work. Not enough have the resources to do their own experiments. We struggle to find the time to properly do Science Fair. Some students can't get enough of Science.
Solution: Add a Science Extension Option to the Options list that students can do for a semester which will include time to do Science Fair work.

Term 1 for Year10's -
Start with a grounding in planning experiments and data processing. Writing methods, drawing graphs, using proper language in writing reports.
Then support the students in independent research and experiments to prepare for Science Fair.