Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
tools and examples for allowing
students to practice science
by Barnaby Dillon
Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Background: my research
Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Background: my research
Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Background: my research
Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Background: my research
• Hypothesizing
• Designing an experiment
• Collecting data
• Analyzing data
• Reaching a conclusion
• Communicating results to your
peers
Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Background: my research
• Hypothesizing
• Designing an experiment
• Collecting data
• Analyzing data
• Reaching a conclusion
• Communicating results to your
peers
Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Background: my current labs
• Following directions
• Collecting data
• Getting the answer
• Communicating results to your
teacher
Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Background: my current labs
• Following directions
• Collecting data
• Getting the answer
• Communicating results to your
teacher
Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Background: what do I want students to learn?
Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Background: what do I want students to learn?
Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Background: what do I want students to learn?
• Hypothesizing
• Designing an experiment
• Collecting data
• Analyzing data
• Reaching a conclusion
• Communicating results to your
peers
Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Background: what do I want students to learn?
• Hypothesizing
• Designing an experiment
• Collecting data
• Analyzing data
• Reaching a conclusion
• Communicating results to your
peers
Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
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The Plan
Modify current procedure-based
experiments
Teach materials and techniques
so students can design their
own experiments
Assess learning with
presentations that emphasize
peer communication
Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Example: volumes lab
Before – We will approximate the volume of a person
using cylinders, rectangular solids, cubes, and
spheres. Use centimeters (cm) for all
measurements.
Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Example: volumes lab
Before –
Name___________________________Period________
Calculating Volumes
We will approximate the volume of a person using cylinders, rectangular solids, cubes, and
spheres. Use centimeters (cm) for all measurements.
1. We will use rectangular solids for your partner’s feet, upper body, and head. Measure the
length_____, width_____, and height_____ of a foot.
2. What is the formula for calculating the volume of a rectangular solid?__________
3. Show your work and calculate the volume of a foot using this formula.
4. Measure the length_____, width_____, and height (from waist to shoulder)_____ of an
upper body.
5. Show your work and calculate the volume of an upper body using this formula.
6. Measure the length_____, width_____, and height (from chin to top of skull)_____ of a
head.
7. Show your work and calculate the volume of a head using this formula.
8. We will use a cylinder for your partner’s arms and legs. Measure the radius of an
arm_______.
9. Measure the length of an arm from the shoulder to the wrist_________.
10. What is the formula for calculating the volume of a cylinder? ____________
11. Show your work and calculate the volume of an arm using this formula.
12. Measure the height of a leg from the ground to the waist _________.
13. Measure the radius of a leg________.
14. What is the formula for calculating the volume of a cylinder? ____________
15. Show your work and calculate the volume of a leg using this formula.
16. We will use spheres for your partner’s fists. Have them clench their fists and measure the
radius of a fist________.
17. What is the formula for calculating the volume of a sphere?__________
Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Example: volumes lab
After – An alien race has run out of food and is
planning to import humans. For proper nutritional
labeling, they need to find out the volume of each
food item. They promise to spare you if you will
measure the volume of your lab partner. What is the
approximate volume of your lab partner measured in
cubic centimeters?
Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Example: volumes lab
Name___________________________Period________
After –
Calculating Volumes
Performance Objectives:
1. Perform distance measurements.
2. Calculate volumes.
Prelab:
1. Write down the mathematical formulas needed to calculate the following volumes:
a. Rectangular solid:
b. Cylinder:
c. Sphere:
2. Explain how you can measure the volume of something by putting it into water.
Lab Question: An alien race has run out of food and is planning to import humans. For proper
nutritional labeling, they need to find out the volume of each food item. They promise to spare
you if you will measure the volume of your lab partner. What is the approximate volume of your
lab partner measured in cubic centimeters?
Procedure:
Materials:
Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Example: molar volume
Standard Molar Volume of a Gas
Purpose to calculate the volume of one mole of a gas at STP
Before – calculate the
volume of one mole of a
gas at STP
Procedure (underlined quantities go in your data)
1)) Set up a ring stand assembly with one utility clamp (to hold the gas-measuring tube)
according to the example on the instructor’s lab bench. Fill the 400 mL beaker with 300 mL of
tap water and place it under the utility clamp.
2) Get 2.5-3 cm of magnesium ribbon from your instructor and measure its mass to the
nearest 0.0001 g. Record the mass.
3) Tightly wrap two turns of a 20 cm piece of copper wire around the middle of the
magnesium. Wrap two turns of the wire around lengthwise also to form a cage for the
magnesuim. Have the one-holed rubber stopper and the magnesium on hand for step 8.
4) Using a beaker to get the water and pour it in, rinse the gas-measuring tube with tap water
a few times. Empty the water from the tube.
5) Using the graduated cylinder, obtain about 10 mL of 3.0 M HCl from your instructor. Tilt
the gas measuring tube and carefully pour in the HCl.
6) Using the deionized water from a squeeze bottle, tilt the gas tube and SLOWLY squirt the
water down the side of the gas-measuring tube so as not to mix the HCl. Fill the tube to the
brim.
7) Carefully lower the magnesium strip 5 cm into the water in the gas-measurement tube and
drape the remaining wire over the side. Insert the one-holed stopper tightly. Squirt more
water into the hole and tap the tube to remove any air bubbles.
8) Place a finger securely over the hole in the stopper and invert the tube. Lower the
stoppered end into the water in the 400 mL beaker and remove your finger. Secure the tube
with the utility clamp so that the stopper rests a few centimeters off the bottom of the beaker.
9) Allow the reaction to proceed until ALL of the magnesium is reacted. If some magnesium
breaks off and floats to the top, don’t let it get stuck to the sides of the tube where it won’t
react. You can tap the tube to keep it in the solution.
10) Measure and record the temperature of the water in your beaker to 0.1°C. This is the same
as the temperature of the gas in the tube.
11) Tap the sides of the gas-measuring tube so that any bubbles stuck to the sides are
dislodged. Put your hand into the water in the beaker so that you can once again cover the
hole in the stopper with a finger. Without letting any liquid or gas escape through the hole,
transfer the tube to a large graduated cylinder filled to the brim with tap water, and lower the
stoppered end of the tube into the water and remove your finger.
Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Example: molar volume
After –
Dear chemistry students,
Our company is willing to donate 1 mole of hydrogen gas to
your instructor for demonstrations. Unfortunately, we don't
know how to measure out a mole of this gas because we
don't have a scale and we don't know the volume of 1 mole
of gas.
After producing the hydrogen gas by reacting an active
metal with an acid, what volume at what pressure should
we collect to have 1 mole at lab temperature (20 degrees
Celsius)? Also, what is the volume of 1 mole at STP?
To figure this out, you should weigh a piece of magnesium
and measure the amount of gas it produces during the
reaction.
Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Other labs I converted
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Activity Series
Flame Test
The Mole
Boiling Point Elevation
Alloys
Sweetener in Gum
Density
Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Future Plans
• Try labs in my chemistry
classes
• Fix them
Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Thank you Martina Michenfelder
Any inquiries?
Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Thank you Melanie Pearlman
Any inquiries?
Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Any Inquiries?
Any inquiries?
Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
References
• Volkmann, M. J., and S. K. Abell. Rethinking Laboratories: Tools for
converting cookbook labs into inquiry. The Science Teacher 70:38. c2003.
Available http://www.convertingcookbooks.missouri.edu/docs/volkmann.pdf
• Carl J. Wenning’s physics 302 syllabus has links to many of his inquiry
materials: http://www.phy.ilstu.edu/~wenning/ptefiles/302.html
• Gallagher-Bolos, Joan A. Teaching inquiry-based chemistry: creating
student-led scientific communities. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, c2004
• Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards: a guide for teaching
and learning. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, c2000.
• Valerie Ludwig Lechtanski. Inquiry-Based Experiments in Chemistry. The
American Chemical Society, c2000.