Research in high school chemistry

CHED 80

Lois Fruen, lois.fruen@breckschool.org, Breck School, 123 Ottawa Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55422
Engaging high school students in research makes chemistry more accessible and interesting. Throughout the year, students research societal issues such as hazardous elements, nuclear power, food additives, disappearing hydrocarbons, global warming, and other pertinent topics. They next participate in a six-week laboratory research project. Projects include growing fractal crystals, synthesizing copper verdigris, making perfumes, investigating chemistry of clays and glazes, analyzing CO2 emissions from exhaust, electroplating plastic, investigating polymers, and many more. This research-focus has led students to enroll in our Advanced Science Research Program where they work full time during the summer and then attend a seminar class during the school year where they write a publication-quality paper, which they submit to the INTEL Science Talent Search, Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, and to the Twin Cities Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Research-focused chemistry is a proven motivator at our school for students.