Water and an immiscible organic liquid are placed in a small plastic bottle. Ten small pieces of a notecard which is shaded on one side by crayon or pencil (graphite or colored) are cut out and placed inside the bottle. After capping and shaking, the notecard pieces float at the liquid-liquid interface with the shaded side facing the nonpolar…

Climate change is of great concern to all age groups but in particular to children. "Simple" climate models have been in place for a long time and can be used effectively with post-16 students. For younger children, modifications are required, and we describe in this paper the development and use of two such models. The first (the Granny…

MóviLab (Moving Lab) was an educational strategy developed at Universidad Industrial de Santander, Colombia, to promote chemistry and science among schoolchildren and teenagers from far rural areas of the Santurbán moor in Colombia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The strategy consisted of designing a kit with chemistry experiments that could be done…

This article focuses on the learning of the Lewis representation at the transition from high school to university, in France. Indeed, this notion is taught both in high school and in the first year of higher education but with different methods, which seems to hinder the learners. In this work, we observe 11th grade and higher education classes…

Green chemistry provides unique opportunities for student engagement through K-12 and community outreach. As a platform for safe, engaging outreach, green chemistry activities allow for hands-on approaches to introducing science and chemistry concepts in informal settings. Green chemistry outreach also is a means for American Chemical Society…

This article reports on a new device, called a geyser guide, that allows for quantitative measurements of both bubble sizes and kinetics of foam production in the so-called Diet Coke and Mentos experiment. The device is easily constructed, is made using readily available materials, and allows the experiment to be carried out indoors with no mess.…

Three-dimensional learning is the name given to the vision for science education described in the National Academies consensus report "A Framework for K-12 Science Education." Of the three dimensions described in the Framework, the Disciplinary Core Ideas and the Science and Engineering Practices have been enthusiastically adopted by…

This contribution reports the process and outcomes of a multiyear effort that supported institutions in reforming general chemistry using multidimensional learning approaches in the form of performance expectations. Performance expectations are based on evidence-centered assessment design principles and describe what learners should be able to do…

The American Chemical Society holds supporting diverse student populations engaging in chemistry as a core value. We analyzed chemical concept inventory scores from 4,612 students across 12 institutions to determine what inequities in content knowledge existed before and after introductory college chemistry courses. We interpreted our findings…

Level 3 characteristics are increasingly important for fingerprint identification, particularly when the fingerprints are problematic and lack level 2 details. In practice, no reliable visualization methods for level 3 features are transferred into a course for the general public, forensic students, or investigators. Our group has reported the…

Gender disparities in STEM fields emerge starting in the fourth grade, when girls are less likely than boys to express interest in STEM fields. Outreach events targeted to girls during this crucial developmental period can foster a sense of belonging in STEM. Women+ Excelling More in Math, Engineering, and the Sciences (F.E.M.M.E.S.) is a…

Outreach activities have been an ongoing commitment of the American Chemical Society and other scientific organizations, yet formal assessment of outcomes has been infrequent. We have designed a simple, reliable, and robust format for assessing attitudinal and motivational characteristics of participants attending informal public events that…

We introduced a microfluidic paper-based analytical device ([mu]PAD) to undergraduates majoring in nutrition education using a modified acid-base titration on paper microzones. After designing experiments for sample analysis using micro acid-base titration, students fabricated the devices and implement the experiment as designed. Then they…

Communicating the flow of genetic information (DNA ? RNA ? protein) is not only a basis of biochemical education, but also is the essential foundation for understanding the complexity of biological processes. The described laboratory exercise demonstrates that the information encoded into different DNA sequences can be transformed into various…

The need to develop interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) skills in young pupils has driven many educational systems to include STEM as a subject in primary schools. In this work, a science kit aimed at children from 8 to 14 years old is presented as a support platform for an innovative and stimulating approach to…