Seeing is believing: Middle school students' engagement and development notions of the particular nature of matter through Microscopy Camp 2005 and 2006

CHED 1614

R. Lee Penn, penn@chem.umn.edu, Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, 207 Pleasant Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455 and Leslie Flynn, leslie@umn.edu, Science Education Curriculum and Instruction, University of Minnesota, 159 Pillsbury Dr, Minneapolis, MN 55455.
Microscopy Camp is designed to introduce and reinforce current, scientifically acceptable concepts of the atomic structure of solid crystals. Twenty-one middle school students attended Microscopy Camp for two days in August of 2005 and 2006 at the University of Minnesota. The campers synthesized magnetite nanoparticles, characterized their particles by visual inspection and light microscopy, and participated in the characterization of their particles using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). A pre-camp and post-camp assessment was performed to gain insight into students' developing concepts regarding the atomic structure of solid crystals, and qualitative results indicate improved, post-camp understanding. In addition, four student teachers were integral in the design and implementation of the camp. Finally, the success of Microscopy Camp critically depended upon the combined expertise of the chemist and science educator, and insights regarding establishing such a partnership and the design of the program will be discussed.
 

Advances in Teaching Chemistry at the Nanoscale at the K-12 Level
8:30 AM-11:35 AM, Tuesday, March 27, 2007 McCormick Place North -- Room N231, Level 2, Oral

Division of Chemical Education

The 233rd ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 25-29, 2007