FUTURE PROGRAM

myIDEA Introductory Chemistry at Ypsilanti High

Sam Boas, boas@umich.edu, Psychology and Pre-Medical Studies, LSA Class of 2010

OVERVIEW PROJECT SNAPSHOT WHAT I LEARNED

In our second semester of FUTURE, we wanted
to reach out to schools other than Cass Tech in Experiment 1: Solubility Rules • It is difficult to create labs
Detroit. This meant that I would have the • Combined a variety of dissolved for students who have little
opportunity to work at nearby Ypsilanti High compounds in spot plates QuickTimeª and a background or interest in
decompressor
are needed to see this picture. the sciences
School. • Resulted in a variety of precipitates
I worked with my peer Brad McManus for Mr. • Experimentally showed solubility • It is important to consider
Thomas Ambrose, a chemistry and astronomy rules the students’ perspectives
teacher. The four classes we were set to teach concerning the labs.
• Students made rule for OH-
were the required general chemistry classes. So solubility • Cass Tech and Ypsilanti
our lessons and experiments needed to be based High are very different
Experiment 2: What is
on introductory chemistry, using straightforward
a Chemical Reaction?
math, and required teaching concepts from the
• A series of five • What was hard? My Future in Teaching?
ground up.
Our general goals were to capture the interest reactions - Planning labs
•
QuickTimeª and a

of the students, introduce them to several basic • Each showed a -Keeping students on task FUTURE was an
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

chemistry concepts, and connect chemistry to different example of a enlightening experience

everyday life. chemical reaction into the world of education
TIMELINE • Purely qualitative • What was easy?
- The labs themselves • I now recognize the
• January Experiment 3: challenges and rewards
Food Calorimetry - Having fun
- Arrange teams
- Meet Mr. Ambrose • The goal was to compare • Because of this program
• February the calories on the package • Was it enjoyable? I am now much more open
to the energy directly to the idea of teaching as
- Visit Ypsilanti High School to observe class - Of course. In the end,
- Arrange and order supplies for lab 1 • We made simple a future career
the students had fun as
• March calorimeters and tested QuickTimeª and a
decompressor they learned, and I did too.
marshmallows and chips. are needed to see this picture.
- Implement lab 1 and prepare for labs 2 and
3 • Unfortunately, our results Partner Information: Brad McManus
were not accurate enough School Information: Ypsilanti High School
• April to compare to actual calorie
- Implement labs 2 and 3 content Teacher Information: Thomas Ambrose
- Prepare and give final presentation Project Coordinator: Mary Starr
- We instead discussed
why that happened