How do I prepare for a visiting scientist?

Be as specific as possible about what you need.

  • Consider the size of your group
    • A lab experience is not practical for more than 15 students.
  • Involve parent volunteers in your activities.
    • Volunteers are needed for hands-on experiments.

How do I prepare my students?

  • Integrate chemistry lessons with other curriculum areas such as history, geography, health, and language.
  • Don't worry about not having all the answers.
    • Help students find out the answers for all of you.
    • One idea: develop a bibliography of useful and readily available information sources.
  • Emphasize the positive impact of chemical research and industry on your students' lives.
    • All matter in the biosphere is chemical, including the students' bodies, food, etc.
    • We are all directly affected by chemical processes.
    • We need to understand and respect natural phenomena.

How do I create a safe environment?

  • Ensure that you understand the safety precautions required for chemicals used in the experiments.
  • Model the correct safety procedures.
  • Wear proper safety equipment, including goggles and lab coats.
Parents and other volunteers work with young chemists
Parents and other adult volunteers are important to successful and fun hands-on chemistry experiments.

Contact

    • Chemists in the Classroom
    • 217 Smith Hall
    • Professor Ken Leopold, Program Director
    • kleopold@umn.edu
    • (612) 625-6072

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