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Collection of Reviewed Teaching Resources

A Plastic World

Subject taught
- Chemistry
- Technology

Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d14DmSBuAQ

Type of Product
- Videos

Language Skills Developed
- Listening
- Reading
- Speaking
- Writing

Transferable/Scientific Skills Developed
Transferable skills: - teamwork, - listening, - communication, - time management, - dependability, - technology. Scientific skills: - listening and observing presentations and videos

Description
• General aims
Understand what condensation polymers are.
Be able to give examples of polyamides and polyesters.
Make the students aware that synthetic polymers are very common materials because useful for a broad range of applications in our life.
• Linguistic aims
Improve the scientific English vocabulary with special reference to: types of polymerization reactions, functional groups, monomers, example of synthetic polymers, words and sayings relative field of applications of plastic.
Listening and reading comprehension related to organic chemistry reactions such as condensation.
Ability to speak about this topic.
• Subject specific aims
Learn that exist several types of reactions for the polymers synthesis.
Know the fundamental principles of condensation polymerisation.
Recognize the functional groups involved in the formation of polyamides and polyesters.
Know that PET, the common plastic of drink bottles is the acronym of polyethylene terephthalate.
Know that Nylon 6,6 and PET are two synthetic polymers that belong to polyamides and a polyesters, respectively.
Know what are the monomers involved in the formation of Nylon 6,6 and PET.
Learn about the uses of Nylon and PET.

• Target group age 16-18
• Level of competence in English (CEFR) B1
• Time required to use the resource with the students
1 hour
• How to use it
Students will watch the video a few times in the classroom. During the viewing they can take notes and possibly ask questions to the teacher if something is not clear. As soon as the vision is finished, the students will work in pairs to complete a semi-structured questionnaire in 20 minutes, that will be administered to them. Subsequently, in turn, some pairs of students will be called to the correction.

• Possible difficulties for the students
Associate for each compound the ball and stick model to the molecular structure.
Assign the chemical formula to the name of functional groups.
Understand why carboxyl group reacts with amino and hydroxyl groups.

Comments
? Strength The explanation is clear and well supported by English subtitles. The length of the video is appropriate to the students’ attention. The video is available on youtube therefore, the students can watch it on their own devices any time they want. This video can attract the student’s interest because it is focused on two commercial polymers they have already heard about. • Weakness The animation of the molecules represented by ball and stick models could confuse the students. In particular, reactive functional groups should be clearly spelled out. • Scientific reliability This resource is provided by a global education charity, very famous for its animated and bitesize videos covering several maths and science topics. ? Pedagogical value (e.g. collaborative learning, self–directed learning, peer assisted learning, etc) The resource is used to provide each student with the knowledge they will immediately verify that they have acquired correctly by filling in a questionnaire with their classmate. In this way, through the collaborative learning methodology, each student can self-evaluate their level of understanding.

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Our Plastic World