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  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 2005  > October  >
Chemistry for Everyone
Chemistry for Kids
Employing Popular Children's Literature To Teach Elementary School Chemistry: An Engaging Outreach Program
Laura M. Wally, Nancy E. Levinger, and David W. Grainger
Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1872
Cover
October 2005
Vol. 82 No. 10
p. 1489
Abstract
Popular cultural themes or fads can provide an effective vehicle to enthuse students about science. The program described here uses current children's literature in a versatile chemical education activity. This activity generates excitement in elementary school students because of the integration of the popular Harry Potter literature series with hands-on experiments. Elementary school student participants are prompted to explore three main scientific topics during this activity: properties of solids, liquids, and gases; scientific ethics; and the scientific method. Undergraduate and high school student volunteer mentors are readily trained to conduct the activity at elementary schools via an introduction to the philosophy of the exercise in conjunction with working through the activity themselves. As an outreach activity it serves to connect undergraduate and high school students both with faculty and their local communities.
Supplement
A descriptive outreach activity lab packet is available.This includes explicit instructions for teachers and presenters to conduct the activities with elementary school students.
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*  Citation
 Wally, Laura M.; Levinger, Nancy E.; Grainger, David W. J. Chem. Educ. 2005 82 1489.
*  Keywords
 Curriculum; Elementary / Middle School Science; Enrichment / Review Materials; Gases; Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives; High School / Introductory Chemistry; Learning Theories; Liquids; Public Understanding / Outreach; Solids
*  History
 Created:
Last Updated:		 August 30, 2005
September 8, 2005
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