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Goals: To get the children to invest in their own education, because I believe that when they are involved and interested, they will learn more “deeply,” i.e. the knowledge will last longer than “just until the next test.” To do this I believe I have to get them involved and interested.  Activity-based learning that forces the children to research and plan and create the knowledge is the key.

Proposal: So, with that in mind, I will have the children create instructional videos to model and demonstrate a number of the skills that we wish our chemistry students to acquire.  There are skills that the children are to learn in addition to the chemistry content. These skills are, for example, the proper use of a triple beam balance, the proper method to use to cut glass tubing, the proper way to add powders or liquids to a test tube, and the proper way to read a burette or graduated cylinder.

Up until now I have modeled this behavior and quizzed them on it. It would be better to have the children create instructional videos that we can archive to illustrate the desired behavior. Not only will they have to learn it more thoroughly, but also we will have it available for other students to review during the year.

Also, last year I found that the students really enjoyed preparing a section of the chapter to present to the class, behaving totally in the role of teacher. They did this as a group activity. With the use of video they will be able to practice their presentation in front of each other and even dramatize parts of the lesson.

Equipment:

Pure Digital Flip Mino 60 Minute Compact Video White Camera @ $169.00

Soft Case @ $14.99

Tripod @ $14.99

Power Adapter @ $14.99

USB Cables @ $14.99