Summer Camp To Engage Students in Nutritional Chemistry Using Popular Culture and Hands-On Activities

• Joanna M. Skluzacek ^[1] ; Joshua Harper ^[1] ; Emily Herron ^[1] ; Jacqueline M. Bortiatynski ^[1]
  1. [1] Pennsylvania State University

     Pennsylvania State University

     Borough of State College, Estados Unidos

     
• Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 87, Nº 5 (May), 2010, págs. 492-495
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Action Potential Science Experience (APSE) is a five-day summer camp offering science opportunities for K−8 students. The focus of the APSE curriculum is to teach science concepts and methods while challenging the participants to solve an overarching problem from the popular-culture context. The participants in the APSE entitled Burger ‘N Fries Chemistry became food chemists to help a fictitious school board decide whether to continue serving a hamburger-and-French fries lunch. Students collected data using classical food chemistry analytical techniques and drew their own conclusions about the nutritional value of not only a typical hamburger-and-fries lunch, but also alternatives to this meal. On the last day, the young food chemists reported their findings to parents and faculty. Written precamp and postcamp surveys were administered to evaluate students’ nutritional knowledge and their appreciation of science. The results indicated that the curriculum was successful in improving the students’ knowledge of nutritional concepts. The data also revealed that self-motivation was a factor in knowledge gain. The survey data supported the conclusion that the majority of students found science interesting and would elect to participate in camps whose titles followed a theme from popular culture.