800.334.5551 • Live Chat (offline)
Login or register now to maximize your savings and access profile information, order history, tracking, shopping lists, and more.
Our Customer Service team is available from 8am to 6:30pm, ET, Monday through Friday. Live chat is available from 8am to 5:30pm ET, Monday-Friday.
We serve educators in more than 170 countries worldwide. Create a quote request on our website or contact our International Sales Team.
Login or register now to maximize your savings and access profile information, order history, tracking, shopping lists, and more.
Your Shopping Cart is currently empty. Use Quick Order or Search to quickly add items to your order!
Product Highlights
The investigative phenomenon for these investigations is the nature of plastic, or more precisely the question, “What is plastic?” Students will explore this phenomenon through the production of bioplastics while working to answer the driving question, “How can you change the behavior of a plastic by altering its molecular structure?” Note: This lab requires a total of 6 days for sample drying: Investigation 1, the bioplastic preparation, requires 4 days; Investigation 2, the bioplastic preparation, 2. To maximize efficiency, thirty-six 100-mL beakers and 36 ceramic fiber squares are recommended; however, the lab may be completed with 12 of each item. Although optional for this lab, calipers provide more accurate measurements of the bioplastic and bioplastic film thicknesses.
Time Requirement
Total, 390 minutes. Teacher prep, 120 minutes. Pre-lab, 60 minutes. Investigation 1, 95 minutes. Investigation 2, 85 minutes. Assessment, 30 minutes.
Digital Resources
Includes 1-year access to digital resources that support 3-dimensional instruction for NGSS. Digital resources may include a teacher manual and student guide, pre-lab activities and setup videos, phenomenon videos, simulations, and post-lab analysis and assessments.
Performance Expectations
HS-PS2-6
HS-ESS3-4
HS-ETS1-2
Crosscutting Concepts
Structure and Function
Disciplinary Core Ideas
PS1.A: Structure and Properties of Matter
Science and Engineering Practices
Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
Learning Objectives
Prerequisite Knowledge and Skills
Students should have a strong understanding of covalent bonds and structural formulas; a basic understanding of intermolecular forces; a basic understanding of monomers and polymers; and know the correct use of a digital balance.