Sustainable STEM: Polymer Properties
Summary
In this lesson, students will explore the basics of polymer science, using pipe cleaners and colored penne to create models. Then, students will create two different slimes using chemical reactions and consider the difference between naturally derived and synthetic materials.
This project came about from a collaboration between Beyond Benign and Steelcase.
This project came about from a collaboration between Beyond Benign and Steelcase.
Safety Precautions, Hazards, and Risk Assessment
Aprons, goggles, and gloves(optional) must be worn. Wash hands and clean work area before and after the lab.
Disposal information: All products in this lab should be placed in a trash receptacle, as slimes can clog drains and pipes. Remember to have your students neutralize the whey waste from the Polymer 1 lab. If the slimes go into the sink, flush with copious amounts water to dilute.
Disposal information: All products in this lab should be placed in a trash receptacle, as slimes can clog drains and pipes. Remember to have your students neutralize the whey waste from the Polymer 1 lab. If the slimes go into the sink, flush with copious amounts water to dilute.
Teacher Recommendations or Piloting Data (if available)
This activity uses the 5E model, be sure to read the whole article before assigning to your students.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.59877/WSVC5749
Related Learning Objects
File (PDF, PPT, image, etc)
File (PDF, PPT, image, etc)
Link to external
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.