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Lesson plan of Introduction to Organic Chemistry: Organic Series

Chemistry

Original Teachy

Introduction to Organic Chemistry: Organic Series

Objectives (5 minutes)

  1. Understand the concept of Organic Chemistry: In this objective, students will be introduced to the field of Chemistry that studies the structure, composition, properties, preparation, and reactions of compounds containing carbon. It will be emphasized that, although carbon is the central element, other elements may also be present, such as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and halogens.

  2. Recognize Organic Series: Students will learn to identify and classify organic series, which are sets of substances that have similar characteristics, usually due to the presence of the same functional group. They will be able to recognize the main organic series, such as the series of hydrocarbons, alcohols, carboxylic acids, among others.

  3. Differentiate the Characteristics of Organic Series: In this objective, students should be able to distinguish the characteristics of each organic series, such as the presence of functional groups, the nature of chemical bonds, among other aspects. They will learn that these characteristics determine the physical and chemical properties of substances.

    Secondary Objectives:

    • Stimulate Curiosity and Interest in Chemistry: In addition to the main objectives, the teacher should seek to arouse students' curiosity and interest in Chemistry by presenting practical and everyday applications of the concepts covered.

    • Promote Active Learning: The teacher should encourage active participation of students through discussions, practical activities, and problem-solving. This will help consolidate concepts and develop critical thinking and problemsolving skills.

Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)

  1. Review of Previous Content: The teacher will start the class by briefly reviewing important concepts of General Chemistry, such as the definition of organic compound, the importance of carbon in the formation of organic molecules, and the basic structure of organic compounds. This can be done through direct questions to students, encouraging active participation and content review.

  2. Problem-based Situation 1: The teacher may propose the following situation: "Imagine that you are scientists researching the chemical composition of a new plant discovered in the Amazon. How could you identify which compounds present in the plant are organic and how could you classify them into organic series?"

  3. Problem-based Situation 2: Next, the teacher may present another situation: "You are working in a chemical analysis laboratory and receive an unknown sample for identification. You observe that the sample is liquid and colorless, and that when adding sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) effervescence occurs. How could you use these observations to suggest the presence of a particular functional group and therefore classify the sample into a specific organic series?"

  4. Contextualization: The teacher should explain that Organic Chemistry is essential to understand the composition and properties of many materials we use in our daily lives, from plastics and medicines to foods and fuels. Additionally, it is an essential tool for understanding biological processes, such as photosynthesis and respiration.

  5. Introduction to the Topic: To spark students' interest, the teacher may share curiosities and practical applications of Organic Chemistry:

    • Curiosity 1: The teacher may mention that, despite being the basis of life on Earth, carbon is one of the most versatile and complex elements of the Periodic Table, forming millions of different compounds, each with unique properties.

    • Curiosity 2: The teacher may tell the story of how Organic Chemistry emerged from the belief that organic compounds, found in living organisms, could only be produced by a "vital force" and never by chemical processes. This idea was challenged in the 19th century when scientists like Friedrich Wöhler synthesized organic compounds from inorganic substances, demystifying the vitalism idea.

    • Practical Application: The teacher may mention that Organic Chemistry is the basis for the production of many medications, including analgesics, antibiotics, and antivirals. Without Organic Chemistry, modern medicine would be very different.

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

  1. Activity "Building Organic Series": In this activity, students will build molecular models of different organic series. The teacher will divide the class into groups of 3 to 4 students and provide plastic molecular model kits, which include carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen atoms, as well as connectors to form chemical bonds. Each group will receive a different organic series to build, such as hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, ethers, esters, and amines.

    • Step 1: The teacher will briefly present each organic series, explaining the general characteristics and the functional groups present. For example, in the series of hydrocarbons, the compounds are formed only by carbon and hydrogen atoms, while in the series of alcohols, the compounds contain the hydroxyl functional group (-OH).

    • Step 2: Next, the teacher will distribute the molecular model kits to the groups and give them time to explore the components and become familiar with the assembly.

    • Step 3: Each group will build the molecular models of their organic series, following the teacher's instructions. During the activity, the teacher will circulate around the room, observing the progress of the groups, clarifying doubts, and providing guidance if necessary.

    • Step 4: After completing the molecular models, each group will present their organic series to the class, explaining the characteristics, the functional groups, and giving examples of compounds belonging to the series.

  2. Activity "Identifying Functional Groups": In this activity, students will practice identifying functional groups in real molecules. The teacher will provide groups with a set of cards, each containing the chemical structure of an organic compound and a list of possible functional groups. Students should identify the functional group present in each compound and place the card in the correct organic series.

    • Step 1: The teacher will distribute the cards to the groups, ensuring that each organic series is represented.

    • Step 2: Each group will work together to identify the functional group present in each compound, discussing and justifying their answers.

    • Step 3: After identifying all compounds, each group will present their findings to the class, explaining how they reached their conclusions and discussing any challenges they faced.

  3. Activity "Properties and Applications": In this activity, students will research the properties and applications of an organic series of their choice. Each group will be tasked with researching a specific organic series and preparing a short presentation, highlighting the characteristics, functional groups, properties, and applications of the compounds in the series.

    • Step 1: The teacher will provide groups with a list of organic series to choose from, ensuring that all series are represented.

    • Step 2: Each group will research the chosen organic series using reliable reference resources, such as textbooks and academic websites.

    • Step 3: After completing the research, each group will prepare a short presentation, which will include a description of the organic series, examples of compounds, their properties, and applications.

    • Step 4: Each group will present their research to the class, sharing what they have learned and answering any questions that may arise. The teacher will encourage the participation of all students, promoting an open and respectful discussion.

Return (10 - 15 minutes)

  1. Group Discussion: The teacher will gather all students and promote a group discussion. Each group will have up to 3 minutes to share the solutions or conclusions they reached during the activities. During the presentations, other students will be encouraged to ask questions and make comments. The teacher will moderate the discussion, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to speak and that the focus remains on the learning objectives.

  2. Connection with Theory: After the discussions, the teacher will review the main concepts and theories covered during the class, connecting them with the students' discoveries and conclusions. For example, the teacher may highlight how the presence of a functional group in a molecule determines its properties and applications, or how understanding organic series can help identify and classify compounds in a chemical analysis laboratory.

  3. Individual Reflection: The teacher will propose that students reflect individually on what they learned during the class. To do this, the teacher will ask the following questions:

    • Question 1: "What was the most important concept you learned today?"
    • Question 2: "What questions have not been answered yet?"
    • Question 3: "How can you apply what you learned today in everyday situations or in other disciplines?"
  4. Sharing Reflections: Students will be invited to share their answers with the class. This will allow students to see different perspectives and interpretations, as well as provide valuable feedback to the teacher on the effectiveness of the class and students' understanding of the topic.

  5. Feedback and Closure: The teacher will end the class by thanking everyone for their participation and effort. He may also make a brief request for feedback, asking students what they thought of the class, what aspects they liked the most, and what could be improved. The teacher will remind students to review the content at home and prepare for the next class.

Throughout the Return, the teacher should reinforce the importance of active learning, curiosity, and critical thinking, and how these skills are essential to becoming a good scientist.

Conclusion (5 - 10 minutes)

  1. Recapitulation of Contents: The teacher will summarize the main points covered during the class, reinforcing the concept of Organic Chemistry and the importance of studying Organic Series. He will review the different functional groups and the characteristics of each organic series, highlighting how these characteristics determine the properties and applications of compounds. The teacher will also review the activities carried out, emphasizing the main learnings and challenges overcome by students.

  2. Connection between Theory, Practice, and Applications: The teacher will emphasize how the class managed to connect theory, practice, and applications. He will recall the practical activities carried out, such as building molecular models and identifying functional groups in real molecules, and how these activities helped students understand and apply theoretical concepts. The teacher will also reinforce the practical applications of Organic Chemistry, mentioning again examples of medications, plastics, and other materials that depend on our understanding of these compounds.

  3. Suggestion of Extra Materials: To deepen students' understanding of the subject, the teacher will suggest some extra materials for individual study. These resources may include organic chemistry books, educational websites and videos, and molecular modeling apps. The teacher may also recommend extra exercises to practice identifying functional groups and classifying compounds into organic series.

  4. Relevance of the Subject to Daily Life: Finally, the teacher will reinforce the importance of the subject studied for students' daily lives. For example, he may mention how understanding organic series can help understand the composition of foods and medicines, or how identifying functional groups can be used to diagnose diseases or predict the toxicity of substances. The teacher may also encourage students to observe and question the world around them, taking into account the concepts learned in the Chemistry class.

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