In this activity, students learn how engineers use solar energy to heat buildings by investigating the thermal storage properties of some common materials: sand, salt, water and shredded paper. Students then evaluate the usefulness of each material as a thermal storage material to be used as the thermal mass in a passive solar building.

This learning activity is designed to be used in a large introductory chemistry course, as part of a larger module of learning activities that include a prior reading of a short background information document. By working in small groups to discuss the presented information and question prompts, students will apply concepts seen in earlier coursework to explore a topic of societal or environmental relevance. No new conceptual information is delivered in this activity; rather this is an opportunity to show students how the chemistry concepts they have developed support a detailed scientific understanding of a significant issue.Students should be tasked with working together to complete the prompts in each section of the activity by a set time limit. After each section is completed, the entire class can share their answers via a personal response system, and the instructor can review and explain the correct responses, using the accompanying slide deck, which translates the problems into multiple-choice prompts.Instructional resources include 1) background information (.docx and .pdf) 2) the learning activity (.docx and .pdf) 3) the learning objects (.docx and .pdf) and 4) the slide deck (.pptx).- Methyl Transferase Enzymes- Nitrogen Cycle- Ozone and Chlorofluorocarbons - Penicillin 

This learning activity is designed to be used in a large introductory chemistry course, as part of a larger module of learning activities that includes prior viewing of an interactive instructional video. Instructional videos are to be viewed before class meetings. During class time, students work in small groups and discuss the presented information and question prompts, and will build upon the concepts discussed in that video in order to develop a new, extended concept.Students should be tasked with working together to complete the prompts in each section of the activity by a set time limit. After each section is completed, the entire class can share their answers via a personal response system, and the instructor can review and explain the correct responses, using the accompanying slide deck, which translates the problems into multiple-choice prompts.Instructional resources include 1) interactive instructional videos (these can be embedded directly into the learning management system) 2) the learning activity (.docx and .pdf) 3) the learning objects (.docx and .pdf) and 4) the slide deck (.pptx). - Chemical Bonding- Resonance - Intermolecular Forces- Collision Theory- Equilibrium- Nucleophiles and Electrophiles

This guided inquiry learning activity is designed to be used in a large introductory chemistry course. By working in small groups to discuss the presented information and question prompts, students will engage in cycles of exploring and analyzing data, inventing new conceptual understandings, and applying those concepts. Students should be tasked with working together to complete the prompts in each section by a set time limit. After each section is completed, the entire class can share their answers via a personal response system, and the instructor can review and explain the correct responses, using the accompanying slide deck, which translates the problems into multiple-choice prompts.Instructional resources include 1) the learning activity (.docx and .pdf) 2) the learning objects (.docx and .pdf) and 3) the slide deck (.pptx).- Atomic Orbitals- Chemical Fuels- Gas Laws- Intermolecular Forces- pKa Trends- VSEPR

In this lesson, students will define their dominant roles online, explain the benefits of each type of online role and discuss the responsibilities and risks inherent in each type of online interaction. This lesson is part of a media unit curated at our Digital Citizenship website entitled "Who Am I Online?"