My students need chemicals to synthesize gold nanoparticles so they can observe how the nanoparticles interact with different wavelengths of visible light.
Not every student enjoys science, but what if we can bring art into the science lab? My goal is to merge physics and art in order to get every student engaged in learning.
Our high school is a selective enrollment math and science academy located in a rough neighborhood, but my students travel from all over the South Side and beyond to attend.
My students are 71% African American and 25% Hispanic, and over 69% are eligible for free or reduced price lunch. They are driven and motivated; they like to explore scientific concepts and to challenge themselves in every way possible.
My Project
Everyone loves colors, but why do they appear different and what does that have to do with their wavelength? My students will use these chemicals to explore physics through the theme of color. First, they will create gold nanoparticles, then they will change the size of those nanoparticles and observe the effect this has on the wavelength of color they see.
Sometimes the most artistically inclined students are turned off by math and science.
Integrating the study of color in the curriculum may help to capture the imagination of those very students.
All of my students encounter light and color every day, but they lack an understanding of the scientific principles behind these phenomena. Performing this lab with the chemicals you provide will help them to better understand how particles and wavelengths of light interact with each other.
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Namowicz and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
