I have a (slightly?) crazy idea for my second-year chemistry class next year. Instead of running labs on specific days, I want to prepare a year-long lab manual. Students would have a block of time in which to complete a specific number of labs.
This does two things: makes my planning easier - I know lab days would _always_ be Tues/Thurs. I can also prep blocks of labs and not do so much day to day lab prep.
Any HS #chemistry teachers doing anything like this?
@brianb
First, know what you are going to do if someone completes all of the labs early and has no work for part of the year. What will admin say?
Then know what you are going to do for people who won't do work in class, and run out of time.
I once spent a week having my students make lotion according to a recipe. They showed me the results and their modifications and got to take the results home in bottles.
One group was excited that their lotion smelled like bacon. We discussed marketability.
@Rozzychan Thanks for the thoughts.
This would only be for my second-year elective, so motivation to participate isn't really a concern I have. That could change in the future, but every year, they _choose_ to take the hard chemistry course.
I would include along-the-way due dates, so it isn't all or nothing at the end of the semester. "X weeks to complete Y labs," etc. And not right off the bat - maybe a month in.
Love the lotion idea. Not so much the bacon part 😅
