Chemistry is all around. It can occur in a laboratory, in organisms, in Earth’s processes and many other places. This module will focus on chemical reactions: types of reactions, and the conditions and places in which they occur. Content that will be covered includes understanding what a chemical reaction is; recognition of chemical reactions using indicators, such as physical and analytical observations, basic techniques for conducting chemical reactions within the laboratory, with the opportunity to conduct several chemical reactions; investigation of chemical reactions in nature, such as catalyzed reactions in organisms (e.g. the ability of yeast to decompose hydrogen peroxide) and natural Earth processes (e.g. decay, acid rain, etc.); and end with the development and execution of a research experiment utilizing the scientific method.

Sample activities include: plastic baggie reactions in which students can observe chemical reactions by feeling temperature change, seeing gas production and color change (e.g. calcium chloride and baking soda mixed when with phenol red solution produces carbon dioxide gas, heat and a solution color change); chemical change versus physical change (e.g. making ice cream in a bag, while not a chemical change, enables students to understand the difference between physical and chemical changes); chemical processes produced in the lab versus nature (e.g. elephant toothpaste with potassium iodide and hydrogen peroxide produces oxygen gas and water in a vigorous reaction, but yeast mixed with hydrogen peroxide results in the same products in an equally vigorous reaction). 

Emily will graduate from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in May 2013 with a B.S. in Chemistry with a Biochemistry focus. In the fall of 2013, she will begin to pursue her Ph.D. in Bioorganic Chemistry. Emily worked for the Education Outreach Office at the UAF Geophysical Institute developing Alaska-based science curriculum for K-12 teachers from 2011-2012. Currently, Emily is a Research Assistant at UAF in Dr. Fenton Heirtzler’s organic chemistry group. Additionally, she is the Outreach Coordinator for the UAF American Chemical Society Student Chapter, and has developed and coordinated a program with chemistry-focused demonstrations and activities for elementary aged students. 

Mari is a 32 year veteran teacher certified in the state of Alaska.   She is currently a General Education teacher at Nordale Elementary in Fairbanks, Alaska.   Mari is in her 3^rd year of CASE K-12 partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks. As a 5^th grade teacher, Mari utilizes hands-on and problem based learning regularly in her classroom.