Forgotten Genius
Source Institutions
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WGBH
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This series of chemistry stations is designed to accompany the PBS documentary about African-American chemist "Percy Julian: Forgotten Genius." Each of the six stations features either a chemical or physical change: mixing vinegar and metals (chemical), baking soda and vinegar (chemical), antacid tablets and water (chemical), cabbage juice indicator and acids and bases (chemical), sodium polyacrylate and water (physical), and cornstarch and water (physical). Connections are drawn to everyday chemical reactions in the "Changes in Everyday Life" handout.
- 30 to 45 minutes
- 45 to 60 minutes
- $10 - $20 per group of students
- Ages 11 - adult
- Activity, Demonstration, Experiment/Lab Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- copy of the "What It Takes to Change" student handout
- copy of the "Station Instructions" student handout
- copy of the "Data Chart" student handout
- copy of the "Changes in Everyday Life" student handout
- goggles
- red pens
- blue pens
- dirty pennies
- clean steel screws
- white vinegar
- 8 oz clear plastic cups
- 100 g salt
- plastic teaspoon
- magnifying glass
- baking soda
- film canisters with lids
- 5 mL graduated cylinder
- sodium polyacrylate
- water
- two 50 mL graduated cylinders
- garbage bags
- antacid tablets (should contain citric acid and sodium bicarbonate)
- sealable sandwich bags
- 300 mL purple cabbage juice
- Two 20 mL graduated cylinders
- cornstarch
- paper bowls
- whole peppercorns
- mortar and pestle
- glass of room-temperature water
- ice cubes
- paper
- matches
Subjects
- Mathematics
- Data Analysis and Probability
- Data Analysis
- Data Collection
- Data Representation
- Measurement
- Data Analysis and Probability
- Physical Sciences
- Chemistry
- Chemical Reactions
- Acids and Bases
- Oxidation-Reduction Reactions
- Solutions
- States of Matter
- Solids
- Liquids
- Gases
- Changes of Phase
- Structure and Properties of Matter
- Elementary Particles and Nuclear Physics
- Chemistry
- The Nature of Science
- The Scientific Process
- Conducting Investigations
- Gathering Data
- Formulating Explanations
- Communicating Results
- Science as a Career
- The Scientific Process
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- see color
- read
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves teamwork and communication skills
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Culture, ethnicity, and gender
African American
- Acknowledges this group's contributions to STEM
- Addresses bias against this group
- Identifies role models or mentors in STEM fields from this group
- Uses inclusive images of people from this group
Other
Components that are part of this resource:
Includes alignment to state and/or national standards
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Source Collection:
- NOVA
Rights:
- All Rights Reserved, WGBH Educational Foundation, ©2007
Funding Sources:
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute
- Corporation for PublicBroadcasting
- Public Television Viewers
- Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
- National Science Foundation, 9901978
- National Endowment for the Humanities
- Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation
- American Chemical Society
- American Playhouse
- Mr. and Mrs. William G. Brown
