Green Chemistry

Classroom Lessons

Activities

The lesson will be paired with a reading exercise. These stories are purposeful and instructive. A list is provided below as they should be introduced.

• Are Trees Alive
• Giving Tree
• Living Sunlight- How Plants Bring the Earth to Life
• I Am A Leaf
• Very Hungry Caterpillar
• The Lorax

An example of the reading lessons is to do a preview of the story by introducing the title, author and front cover. Then read the story. During the reading ask questions that elicit thinking skills, such as having the student paraphrase, summarize, recall, interpret and use basic comprehension skills. These skills can be activated by discussion. The text should provide enough clues for me to facilitate the students. Three of the books will be read for preparation. This preparation will take place prior to the first lesson. The Carnegie Science Center should be scheduled before the first activity. This will be an introduction to chemistry and the chemical process.

Activity I

This lesson is an introduction to the concept of photosynthesis. The basic model of this in a visual will be provided. That should consist of a sun, tree, air and directions of what's going on. A poster will be hung up for reference. The book "Living Sunlight How Plants Bring the Earth to Life" will be placed on an overhead. The page with the explanation of the photosynthesis will then be discussed.

Planting a Plant

1. Provide the students with paper cups (12 oz. size) and lima beans.
2. Plant the seeds in the soil that will be put into the cups.
3. Place each cup on the window sill or where it can get some sunlight.
4. Read the book "Living Sunlight How Plants Bring the Earth to Life".

This lesson will show plant growth. The discussion on photosynthesis and its process will better help the students to have a pictorial understanding.

Activity II

Windmill Party

This activity should be introduced after air pollution is discussed. Organize a brief discussion on air and breathing related to air pollution. Discuss some of the causes of air pollution and how green chemistry is trying to minimize it. Also, discuss the natural way that a tree takes pollutants out of the air using the photosynthesis process. The breathing on the mirror exercise should be done at this time. The directions are as follows for making the windmills. Take an 8"x11" sheet of paper and cut it to 8.5"x8.5" squares. This size can be achieved by cutting 2.5 inches off the bottom. Colored copying paper would be perfect or green for the windmills. This activity will need materials that consist of fasteners, markers, oak tag paper or straws for the handle and scissors. Give each student their squares and let them decorate them with trees. On each corner of the square have the students cut from one corner of the square an inch from the middle. It will be outlined because this will help them with eye and hand coordination. Then the ends need to be folded. To fold the windmills attach the center to the straw or oak tag. Then fold each corner down to the center. Poke a hole with the fastener through each of the folded centers. This will make the sheet of paper look like a windmill. After the windmills are made, let the students blow on them. This activity should be done in and outdoors. Show the clip art that depicts air coming out of a company and trees helping clean up the air.

Activity III

Composting - Our Product

This activity will start with a field trip to Rachel Carson's Homestead. This will be a field trip that will include a visit to her birthplace a four-room farm house. This is where she grew up as a child as well. We will do the "Sense of Wonder Hike". This hike will include using your senses to explore living and nonliving things. We will look at trees and smell them. We will also make a nature craft. There are many more activities on this hike that will reinforce this unit (www.rachelcarsonhomestead.org). (Accessed July 25, 2009)

This activity will consist of leaves and gallon milk cartoons. First collect falling leaves and other tree remnants that have fallen. Put them in a pile. After accumulating leaves enough for each student, have each student fill their milk cartoon. Then add some dirt to each of the containers or soil. The compost will need air to decompose. The compost will need some air to keep moisture in. The compost has to be moist. Moisture helps with the decomposition of the leaves. Let the students take home with a note to their families how to care for the compost and how to use it. This compost will be our product and will help with promoting green chemistry.