< Home | Student Version | Next >
Introduction
This module teaches macromolecular science by profiling three scientists: Wallace Carothers, Linneaus Dorman, and Stephanie Kwolek. In addition to macromolecular concepts, the module is designed to reinforce general chemistry concepts whenever possible. For example, the story of Wallace Carothers' role in settling the dispute between colloid theory and macromolecular theory is used as a device to reinforce the students' understanding of covalent bonding.
The common thread joining all three scientists is that they all conducted research on polyamides. Wallace Carothers invented the first synthetic polyamides, nylon. Stephanie Kwolek built on his research to develop high-strength aramid fibers. Meanwhile, Linneaus Dorman returned to the proteins that had inspired Carothers and developed synthetic proteins of biotechnological applications. The students should be aware of the divergent paths polymer science has taken, beginning as a materials-oriented science (exemplified by Kwolek's work) but branching out in more recent times to include a variety of biomedical applications. This is demonstrated by the work of Dorman, who in fact combined biomedical and materials applications of polymers.
Basic Chemistry Concepts
This module uses polymer chemistry to enforce many basic chemistry concepts. Covalent bonding, states of matter, and molecular mass are central and tutorials on those concepts are included. Other general chemistry topics are discussed in the Teacher's Guides to individual readings and activities.
Time
This module can be used over a variety of time frames, depending on what your particular curriculum and class schedules permit. You may choose to spend anywhere from a few days to several weeks covering polymer chemistry using the material presented here.
Feel free to use as many or as few of the readings and activities in this module. Some maybe better suited to some classes than others, and there are certainly more activities in this module than most teachers will be able to use in the amount of time allowed by the constraints of a real curriculum and schedule. You need not use all the material in the module. More than enough material was purposefully included to allow teachers maximum flexibility when using the module.
Categories
The module contains four sections: Readings, Hands-On Activities, Challenge Activities, and Tutorials. The Challenge Activities section includes those activities that are more oriented toward pencil-and-paper work than actual laboratory investigation. These are designed to probe how well students can think and use what they have learned, not just their memories. In addition, some challenge the students to learn more about polymers and polymer chemistry through independent research, picking up where the readings leave off. Several of the Hands-on Activities and the Challenge Activities can be used for assessment, and include assessment rubrics for this purpose. The Tutorials are included to allow students to review general chemistry topics relevant to macromolecular science.
Navigating the module
The links in this module are color coded. Blue links within the text lead to other pages in this module, while brown links link to glossary definitions for the highlighted words. Links to other websites are listed at the bottoms of pages, and these links are included in the teacher pages as well because they often contain background information which instructors may find useful. Clicking one one of these links will open a new copy of your Web browser.
Teacher's guides
Every student page has an accompanying teacher's guide page which describes the purpose of the page in the greater scheme of teaching polymer chemistry, and suggestions on how best to use the page. In addition, the teacher's guides contain information on how each page serves to meet the National Science Education Standards.
For some activities we have provided student answers in the teacher's guide. To prevent students from cheating, these answer pages have been password protected. We make the password available to all teachers at no cost. If you are a teacher, you may obtain a password by e-mailing us at markm@chemheritage.org from an e-mail account on a school server. You can also obtain the password by writing to us on your school's letterhead stationery at:
-
Education Services
Chemical Heritage Foundation
315 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
-
Next: Mystery Materials