thermoelectrics

Some of you are heading back to your classroom – check out this blog for ideas on how to decorate, activities, or ways to approach teaching chemistry topics!

For inexpensive chemistry labs to expand your repertoire, buy my lab book Chemistry on a Budget for $21 at amazon.com or $23 at lulu.com.

Chemistry on a Budget contains several labs that are great for the beginning of the school year!  Topics used include Significant Figures, Density (2 labs) and Physical Separation techniques are very handy for the beginning of the school year.

There are two versions of each lab, one with a ten-question conclusion and one with directions for a full lab report.  This way the teacher has the option!  Each lab is two pages to allow for one two-sided handout. 

It will take a week or two to get to you, so Order Now!

http://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Budget-Marjorie-R-Heesemann/dp/0578129159/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389410170&sr=1-1&keywords=chemistry+on+a+budget

http://www.lulu.com/shop/marjorie-r-heesemann/chemistry-on-a-budget/paperback/product-21217600.html

I realize that during the school year it’s very difficult to keep up with research topics.  During the next few weeks, I will talk about some current research going on in the science community. 

Here is a very current report from National Public Radio (NPR) about the development of thermoelectrics which convert heat to electric power:

http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2015/08/20/432738291/a-lot-of-heat-is-wasted-so-why-not-convert-it-into-power

This is an interesting discussion for the start of an Introductory Chemistry course or it could be used during the study of Thermodynamics.

*Students could investigate this area of research, read a chosen article about the topic, summarizing it or listing 10 facts, have a discussion about the pros and cons of this technology, especially a cost/benefit discussion.

This Blog contains several entries that would be helpful to your chemistry classroom.  Remember, you can check out the Topic List to help you to find past Blog entries.

I know that some of you are checking out your classrooms, cleaning and decorating – for lab ideas, remember to order my book!