Chemistry and Conflict
Chemistry and Conflict was a project developed by Peter Jana and Daisy Sharrock for a 10th grade team during the Fall 2010 semester at High Tech High, San Diego.
Each chapter is the product of a collaboration between two students. The chapters focus on the relationship between different chemical elements or compounds and historical conflicts, such as the relationship between isoprene (rubber) and 19th century Imperialism.
Students were also asked to study a contemporary conflict, develop a solution to that conflict, and make connections between the present and the past.
Writing this book included a multi-step process. Students conducted chemical experiments to learn about various elements and compounds; they pursued library research to produce a lengthy paper, and developed their own mini-projects – some using interactive multi-media and original art – all related to a contemporary conflict.
Before publication students and teachers engaged in an extensive critique and editing process. All students critiqued each other’s work and had to satisfy a student-run editorial board before teachers read their drafts and provided feedback.
We learned as much as our students from participating in this project, and we hope that you can also come away from it with a deeper understanding of the surprising ways in which even the most elemental components of our physical world affect history.
Each chapter is the product of a collaboration between two students. The chapters focus on the relationship between different chemical elements or compounds and historical conflicts, such as the relationship between isoprene (rubber) and 19th century Imperialism.
Students were also asked to study a contemporary conflict, develop a solution to that conflict, and make connections between the present and the past.
Writing this book included a multi-step process. Students conducted chemical experiments to learn about various elements and compounds; they pursued library research to produce a lengthy paper, and developed their own mini-projects – some using interactive multi-media and original art – all related to a contemporary conflict.
Before publication students and teachers engaged in an extensive critique and editing process. All students critiqued each other’s work and had to satisfy a student-run editorial board before teachers read their drafts and provided feedback.
We learned as much as our students from participating in this project, and we hope that you can also come away from it with a deeper understanding of the surprising ways in which even the most elemental components of our physical world affect history.
Illuminating Standards
Chemistry and Conflict was highlighted in Illuminating Standards - a project co-sponsored by Expeditionary Learning and Harvard University. Illuminating Standards is designed to showcase how Projects-Based-Learning can enrich standards and curriculum. Click here for the Illuminating Standards write-up about Chemistry and Conflict.
Chemistry and Conflict was highlighted in Illuminating Standards - a project co-sponsored by Expeditionary Learning and Harvard University. Illuminating Standards is designed to showcase how Projects-Based-Learning can enrich standards and curriculum. Click here for the Illuminating Standards write-up about Chemistry and Conflict.