Lifelong Learning Programme

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TEACHERS EXPERIENCES FORM

Title of the Experience
Chemistry to explain facts my students experience
Name of the teacher
M.C.
Country where it took place
Romania
School typology
Vocational School
Thematic Area
Chemistry
Experience typology
Teaching in class, Laboratory
Type of contact
Direct
Description of the Experience
I have always used chemistry to explain facts my students experience and are curious about. That is why most of the times I start from their experiences. For instance chlorine is used as a disinfectant to purify drinking water and as a disinfectant in wastewater treatment plants and swimming pools. My students have complained about the water they drink as tasting a bit strange. That is how I introduced chlorine, which is used to purify water. It is also widely used as a bleaching agent in many textile factories and paper mills and is an important ingredient in many laundry bleaches. Therefore, in high concentrations chlorine is toxic; it is toxic to fish, aquatic organisms as well to people. I invited my students to test the chlorine levels of various water samples they chose: pool water, tap water, bottled water, pond water or fish tank water. We filled test vial with water sample. We used the test kit to measure the chlorine level for each sample. We also compared the color of the water samples to the test kit color standards. The experiment also raised some of my students’ awareness about chlorine and its role in purifying the water we drink.

Comments on this Teachers Experience

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Date: 2014.11.21

Posted by Anita Krismane (Latvia)

Large quantities of all substances can serve as a poison, even food. A good example of this. Motivation chemistry knowledge necessary.
In my practice, I use historical events involving them in shaping patterns of understanding of chemical concepts, a little.

Date: 2014.10.16

Posted by Nevenka Kostova (Bulgaria)

A very successful strategy is to make students participants in the study. I personally, often do this. Thus students feel more grown up, more significant, and as a result become more responsible. Admiration for the colleague for using this approach.
Chlorine is very suitable object for study because there are many options (types of drinking water, swimming pools, household products) - all available for children, it is also interesting in its toxicity. For my students always the terrible results are those which are more interesting. One fact: On April 22, 1915 chlorine was used first as a chemical warfare during the First World War. Near the Belgian town of Ypres the Germans opened 6000 metallic balloons filled with chlorine. Within minutes, creating an enormous yellow-green cloud, weighing 180 tons, it slowly moved to the position of the French soldiers. Deadly gas penetrated in all shelters. The results were stunning. Chlorine struck 15,000 people, 5000 of whom died on the spot. It was the first chemical attack that demonstrated the effectiveness and results of horrific warfare agents. This impresses the children and make them more responsible and conscientious.

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