Polymers+Using+Fold-it

Dorothy Alf, 2012 8th grade classroom

2 lessons introducing and delving deeper into polymers.

[|Polymers part 1 lesson plan(1).docx] [|Polymers(1).pptx]
 * Lesson 1: Intro to Polymers:**

This lesson is intended to introduce students to the basics of polymer chemistry in very general terms. Parts of this lesson are intended to link the basics of molecular chemistry to genetics, but the overall theme is that form influences function and how the world is based on polymers. This lesson can link into another one (a second part) but can also stand on its own.

[|FoldIt Lesson Plan_v2(1).doc]
 * Lesson 2: Investigating Polymers using Fold-it:**

This lesson is a follow-up to the previous lesson about the nature of polymers & how shape can drastically change function. Students use their prior knowledge to fold proteins into usable shapes, while thinking about the logic behind this process.

Foldit is a citizen science solve puzzles for science project: @http://fold.it/portal/