John Carroll University  -  Department of Chemistry

Chemistry for Kids Summer Camp 2001

Chemistry for Kids 2001 sponsored by John Carroll University was a wonderful chance for kids to learn more about chemistry. During the one week experience, students going into 5 through 7 grade in the fall had an opportunity to work in a college laboratory performing fun and exciting experiments with John Carroll professors. The program was designed to create an enthusiasm for science in young adults. Daily experiments were centered around a chemical concept or "theme".

Day 1: Elements and Electrochemistry:

On the first day, the students were welcomed to a week's worth of fun and excitement in chemistry by the camp director, Faith Whitworth.  The students started the day off by looking a various elements.  They identified elements based on their characteristic properties such as appearance, texture, reactivity, and attraction to a magnet.  They used their ability of observation to classify and identify the different metals.   Next, they looked at the concept of certain elements and compounds producing a colored flame when burned by doing flame tests.  They also learned that these burning elements and compounds are the bases of firework displays.  The students where then introduced to the Activity Series of Metals.  They also learned about ions in solution and the transfer of electrons.  Once again they made careful observations when they placed various strips of metal into different salt solutions to see what would happen.  Dr. Mike Setter took what they learned about the activity of certain metals and introduced the students to Electrochemistry.  Here they measured the ability of certain fruits pierced with pieces of metal called electrodes to produce an electrical circuit.  Finally, they used their knowledge in electrochemistry to clean the tarnish off of sterling silver or silver plated objects.

The last experiment of the day dealt with the combination of metals and nonmetals to form compounds called salts.  They began their crystal growing experiment by using solutions of saturated potassium aluminum sulfate.  The solutions were left over the week to produce crystals of potassium aluminum sulfate.  The crystal growing progress was monitored each day.  The students were able to take home crystals on Friday.

Comments:
"He really liked it and wants to definitely do it again next year.  In fact, he wishes it lasted more than one week!"

"I am very pleased with the camp.  You all do a terrific job.  It is great having him come home just filled with enthusiasm and wanting to tell the entire family about what learned."

Day 2: Acids and Bases:

During day two of chemistry camp the students were introduced to the properties of acids and bases. Dr. Mark Waner started the day by describing some of the properties of acids and bases. He explained how acids and bases can be identified with compounds called indicators. The students also discovered some very common acids and bases in their home. Dr. Waner performed a colorful demonstration using various indictors, and dilute solutions of sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide to Kermit the Frog singing "The Rainbow Connection".  The students then investigated the chemical properties of indicators by looking at how Color Change Markers work.   They then went into lab and made their own acid-base test paper using plant juices as indicators.  They calibrated their test papers with solutions of known pH.  The test papers were then used to determine the pH of household solutions. Using these pH values, they classified the solutions as either an acid, a base or as a neutral solution.  The next experiment dealt with the reaction of hydrochloric acid and a copper penny.  The students learned that pennies are made of a zinc core surround by copper.  They determined that zinc, reacts with hydrochloric acid by making a hollow penny.  The students then looked at the reaction of  baking soda with vinegar to produce carbon dioxide gas.  Their last experiment dealt with the reaction of bases and vegetable oils or fats to make soap.  They make their own perfumed soap to take home and use.

Comments:
"We felt fortunate that she was able to attend this camp and to expose her to all the different areas in such a fun and stress free manner.  We hope her brother will attend in a few more years."

"We were thrilled with the curriculum and the amount of material covered and the projects used."

Day 3: Density, Photography, and Liquid Nitrogen:

Day three of chemistry camp started with the investigation of density.  The students determined the density of various solutions of sugar with differing concentrations. With practice the students were able to carefully "stack" one sugar solution on top of another.   This lead them to making their own density column out of syrup, dish soap, shampoo, antifreeze, and water to take home.  Next, the students turned their attention to Pin-hole Photography with the help of Dr. Mike Nichols.  The students  discovered that cameras do not have to be complex to produce an image. Dr. Nichols described the basics of photography.  The students were equipped with their own "canister cameras" and released to photograph the campus.  They developed their images and were permitted to take the pictures home as a record of their time spent at JCU.   They also investigated chemiluminescence reactions and what takes place within a lightstick.  Dr. Nichols also pointed out some animals that produce these types of reactions within their bodies.  One such animal is the lighting bug.   The highlight of day consisted of Drs. Waner and Nichols performing demonstrations with liquid nitrogen.  The students investigated the properties and uses of this fascinating compound. 

Comments:
"Nicholas loved this camp and hopes to do it next year!"

"It was fun.  She liked the experiments that she did and she met a lot of nice people."

Day 4: Chromatography, Colligative Properties, Silver Mirror, and Bubbles:

Day four began with T-shirt Chromatography.  Students learned that chromatography is a technique used to separate components of mixture.  They also learned that markers are made up of different pigment molecules.  Knowing these two things, the students where able to produce some really neat designs on their very own T-shirt.   Next, they studied colligative properties and the effect of sugar and table salt on the freezing point of water.  Using the ability of table salt to lower the freezing point of water, the students made their own snack --- ice cream in a baggy!  Dr. Catherine Miller then lead the students in discovering the silvering process, and the students silvered their own Erlyenmeyer flask.  Next, the terms miscible and immiscible were introduced to the students as they looked at what occurs when food coloring is mixed with cooking oil and poured into a beaker of water.  They also investigated the property of water known as surface tension.  This lead to describing polar and non-polar molecules and how detergent breaks the surface tension of water to clean clothes.  The last activity of the day allowed the students to go outside and have some fun with soap bubbles.  They answered questions such as Why are soap bubbles round? and Where do the different colors of the soap film in the bubble come from?

Comments:
"My son, Sean, liked the camp and got a lot out of it.  He is considering science as one of his majors in college."

"Fabulous!  Lots of info -- wonderful staff and environment.  I liked the way the students were treated --- not like 'little kids'."

Day 5: Polymers and DNA:

Day five started out with Dr. Bob Bohinski teaching the students about DNA.  They were then directed in extracting the DNA of a banana.  The students placed the DNA strand in a sealed container of ethanol to take home.  The discussion went from DNA, a natural polymer, to synthetic polymers. Dr. Waner explained the properties of polymers and how they are made.  Some polymers found around the house are plastics, rubber, polyester and nylon. The students also discovered that polymers are formed from monomers in a chemical reaction called polymerization. From there Mrs. Whitworth lead them through different experiments dealing with different types of polymers. They made polyurethane foam, which is made from two different monomers. The students performed an experiment using latex which is found naturally in milkweed and dandelions. They also made gluep, which contains the polymer polyvinyl acetate. Slime was produced by mixing polyvinyl alcohol with a borax solution. The students also looked at Lexan samples provided by peers Tommy and Wiley Fox whose grandfather discovered the polymer for GE.  Lastly, they looked at the unusual properties of cornstarch when it is mixed with water to form a putty. 

Comments:
"I thought it was excellent because my son learned techniques and terms that I have used myself working in a chem. lab."

"Wonderful!  There was never a boring moment."

Return to JCU Chemistry Department Home Page