Live from...Science Videos

Students often struggle with making the connection between the content they are learning and the neighborhoods they live in. However, there are many examples of chemistry in their communities. Students will act as onsite reporters to identify and share uses and applications of chemistry with their peers.

Students will be introduced to their project by reading articles from ChemMatters and viewing archived video clips from local news programs that highlight issues founded in chemical principles. Working in small groups (2-4 students), students will brainstorm different video segments they could produce about chemistry in their community. Possibilities include interviews with local business owners about their products (examples: the role of yeast in making pizza, the different octane ratings at a gas station, the purpose of antifreeze in your engine, etc.), chemistry in the environment (examples: weathering of rocks, salting of roads), household chemicals, and the uses of various elements in their everyday lives.

Students will sign out the flip video cameras for a one week period in order to record the necessary footage. Students will then take time in class to organize and edit their video clips into a 3-5 minute video segment. Student videos will be assessed based on the following criteria: Clarity of Message, Quality of Editing, Depth of Content, and Entertainment Value. These video clips will be shown to students building-wide to improve their appreciation for science in their community and to inspire their own interest in video production.