Is it Hard to Make Science Fun? Na!
All puns aside, it doesn't have to be hard to make science fun and interactive for students. Taking the classroom home or to the outdoors is easy when you have everything you need (including the lesson plan) in a backpack! The American Chemical Society (ACS) Midland Section created a customizable, water quality lesson plan for Michigan middle school teachers with help from us here at Hanna Instruments.
About the American Chemical Society (ACS) Midland Section
The American Chemical Society (ACS) Midland Section in Michigan geographically covers Midland Bay, Saginaw, Gratiot, and Isabella Counties and received its charter as a local section of the American Chemical Society. The ACS Midland Section’s main objective is to promote chemistry and improve public perception of science through innovation in research, education and career development, for the benefit of its members and partners in the surrounding local communities of the Great Lakes Bay Region.
The H2O Q Project: A Complete Water Lesson Plan in a Portable Backpack
Teaching Interactive Science Has Neve Been Easier!
Water is one of the most precious resources in the world. It is important for children to understand water systems and how to monitor and preserve them. The H2O Q Project started in 2017 to do just that. They tailored a water quality chemistry kit to make it easy for STEM students and their teachers to align with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The water quality chemistry kit is an all-in-one lesson plan in a backpack. The 6 key water quality tests contained in the backpack allow you to teach hands-on water science in a classroom, at home, or in the field.
Dale LeCaptain, Professor for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Central Michigan University is one of the pilots behind the project.
“Part of our design is there are 6 water quality parameters, so if a teacher has a class of 30 students, they can have groups of 3 or 4 students who are running different tests. Once the group of students completes the first water quality test, teachers can then have the students rotate so that by the end of the lesson each student will have measured the 6 water quality parameters.”
Dale LeCaptain, Professor for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Central Michigan University
The parameters included in the kit are the basis for much water quality measurements in the area. He wants to encourage teachers to take their students outside the classroom to experience the world through science. Some tests included in the kit are for phosphate, pH, TDS (total dissolved solids), and dissolved oxygen. This kit was chosen after the ACS Midland Section Volunteers discovered Hanna Instruments. Not only did they test the products, but a small group of students tested them as well and found them easy to use!
A Partnership for Years to Come
Partnering with Hanna Instruments has helped the H2O Q Project make over 100 backpack labs for distribution. Middle school students across the region received a hands-on learning experience that was able to be integrated into their STEM curriculum. Overall, the project has been a success - especially for getting students out into the community and for them getting excited about chemistry.
Got Questions?
For more information regarding how Hanna Instruments can help you with your testing needs, contact us, as sales@hannainst.com or 1-800-426-6287.
