lesson plan for grade 6 - forestry nano superheros

NAN TECHN  LOGY

6

Science Teachers,

This lesson plan was designed for grade 6 and meets Alberta Education curriculum learning outcomes for science (see the following page for program of studies reference). The plans are easy to understand and implement without any specialized training, additional work or study. Best of all, they make this interesting subject matter engaging to teach.

The lesson plans were focus tested in seven schools throughout Alberta, incorporating teacher’s feedback, and received great reviews. These plans provide the tools necessary to guide students through interactive experiences with nanotechnology that will help them understand this aspect of science. Included in the lesson plans are: • a short explanation on what is nanotechnology, • an activity description, • time requirements, • materials, • an assessment rubric, and • an in-depth teacher’s background for reference.

Each lesson was designed in a way that allows you to quickly adapt it to your specific class needs and/or level of knowledge. If you wish to go deeper into the material, you can use the links provided under References or Bibliography. These lesson plans are complemented by a Nano Resource DVD for additional resources such as comic strips, videos, photos and more information related to teaching and understanding nanotechnology. These resources are also available for downloading at nanolessonplans.alberta.ca.

As you can see, the subject of nanotechnology is rich with opportunities for learning. We hope you will find the lesson plans worth implementing and include this fascinating area of science in your science program for the year.

If you require more information on additional nanotechnology learning experiences, or have any questions about the information provided, please contact nanoAlberta at 780-450-5111 or email nano@albertainnovates.ca. For grades 7 to 12 check out our travelling Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) program and book it for your school today. This free program supplies the Microscope for a week and an Alberta certified science teacher will come and work with you and your class or school. A great complement to the nano lesson plans. Visit nanolessonplans.alberta.ca for more information on the SEM program.

Did You Know?

The University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology all offer nanotechnology

programs to train the next generation of curious and

bright minds.

These lesson plans are available to view online and can be downloaded free at nanolessonplans.alberta.ca

Limited additional copies are available for ordering from the Learning Resource Centreat lrc.education.gov.ab.ca

For information, including reproduction for commercial purposes, please contact:Alberta Innovates - Technology FuturesnanoAlbertaPhone: 780-450-5111Email: nano@albertainnovates.ca

Users may reproduce these materials without further permission solely for educational and non-commercial purposes. However, Crown copyright is to be acknowledged. All other rights reserved.

This material may contain or reference publications subject to copyright held by third parties (“third party material”), identified with a credit to the source.

This does not grant the user a license or right to reproduce the third party material. Users who wish to reproduce any third party material in this

publication must seek permission directly from that third party.

This information was accurate, to the best or our knowledge, at the time of printing. Science technology and education information are subject to change, and you are encouraged to check our website (nanolessonplans.alberta.ca) for updated lesson plans, additional resources and sources.

ISBN 978-0-7785-9665-3 (print)ISBN 978-0-7785-9666-0 (online)

1. Lesson planning – Alberta – Outlines, syllabi, etc. 2. Nanotechnology – Alberta –Curricula. I. Alberta. Alberta Advanced Education and Technology. II. Alberta Innovates –Technology Futures. LB1027.4 N186 2011 371.3028

© 2011 Government of Alberta and Alberta Innovates - Technology Futures

Check out these other great Nanotechnology Lesson Plans

Nanotechnology: Lesson Plan for Grade 4 ScienceSlippery Leaves

Nanotechnology: Lesson Plan for Grade 5 Science Small is Different–Classroom Chemistry

Nanotechnology: Lesson Plan for Grade 7 Science Nanotechnology and the Environment – Smart Dust

Nanotechnology: Lesson Plan for Grade 8 Science Nanovision–Light and Optical Systems

Nanotechnology: Lesson Plan for Grade 9 Science Carbon’s Nanocaper–Matter and Chemical Change

Nanotechnology: Lesson Plan for Science 10 “BRANE” Work–Cycling of Matter in Living Systems

Nanotechnology: Lesson Plan for Chemistry 20 Putting it Together-Self Assembly –The Diversity of Matter and Chemical Bonding

Nanotechnology: Lesson Plan for Biology 30 Medical Applications of Nanotechnology –Cell Division, Genetics, and Molecular Biology

• Applications Technician• Bio Material Engineer• Cancer Researcher• Characterization Scientist• Chemical Technologist/Engineer• Chemist• Coating Scientist• Computational Physicist• Contact Metallization Process Engineer• Electron Microscopy Technician• Materials/Nanotechnology Scientist • Materials/Metallurgical Engineer• Mechanical Engineering• Molecular Biologist

• Molecular Imaging Technologists• Nanobiologist• Nanoparticle Development Scientist• Nanotechnology Business Manager• Nanotechnology Laboratory Technician• Nanotoxicologist• Optical Engineer• Pharmacologist• Process Quality Engineer• Product Marketing Manager• Tissue Engineer• Wafer Fabrication Development/Process Engineer

Did You Know? Nanotechnology opens students to a wide variety of occupations in an even wider variety of industry sectors. Consider that nanotechnology may be encountered and used in some way by:

PROGRAM OF STUDIES REFERENCE: Grade 6 Science – Trees and Forests SLE • Identify human uses of forests, and compare modern and historical patterns of use.• Identify an issue regarding forest use, identify different perspectives on that issue, and identify actions that might be taken. Skills• Identify sources of information and ideas and demonstrate skill in accessing them. Sources may include library, classroom, community, and computer-based resources.• Identify possible applications of what was learned. • Identify new questions that arise from what was learned.

Attitudes • Communication and Teamwork• Collaboration

2 Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures nanolessonplans.alberta.ca

G R A D E 6

F O R E S T R Y N A N O S U P E R H E R O E S

Part 1Students list some human uses of forests and some of the issues in forestry and forest products, such as pest control, waste water remediation, wood product preservation/strengthening.

Part 2They are introduced to nanotechnology as a science, discovering how big a nanometre is and what differences materials can exhibit at the nanoscale.

Part 3Nanotechnology applications or advances (Nano Superheroes) that improve old ways of dealing with these forestry issues are discussed. Students report their findings in a suggested format, showing the Nano Superhero in action (i.e. describe the nanoparticle or nanofibre and what issue they address, as well as how the Nano Superhero works to tackle it—what are his/her superpowers?).

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION This lesson has 3 parts:

3Grade 6 Forestry Nano Superheros

Teacher backgroundAdapted from the following sources:

The Lotus Leaf Effect program (developed for the NISE Network with funding from the National Science Foundation under Award Number 0532536).http://www.nisenet.org/catalog/programs/lotus-leaf-effect “Nanotechnology – Canada’s Forests”http://canadaforests.nrcan.gc.ca/article/nanotechnology

GLOSSARY• nanotechnology• nanoparticle• nanocoating• nanofibres• nano whiskers• nanometre• cellulose nano- crystals (CNCs) or nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC)

MATERIALS• student information sheets for Nano Superhero technologies• poster board materials or access to electronic presentation tools• access to internet sources

TIME REQUIRED Part 1: Human uses and issues (20 minutes)Part 2: Nanotechnology (15 minutes)Part 3: Nanotechnology applications research (40 minutes in class, followed by homework time for presentations. Another class is required if you want them to present their work to the class).

4 Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures nanolessonplans.alberta.ca

CLASS PREPARATION - PART 1Introduction: Forest product issues

Students work in pairs to make lists of the kinds of products humans get from forests, such as lumber for fences and decks. This can lead to a discussion of the kinds of features the lumber needs, such as resistance to pests and sun or moisture damage. Some of the environmental issues involved in producing these products—waste water from processing and chemicals used to treat wood products—should also be discussed.

Nano is the scientific term meaning one-billionth (1/1,000,000,000). It comes from the Greek word meaning “dwarf”.

A nanometre is one one-billionth of a metre. One centimetre equals 10 million nanometres (nm). A sheet of paper is about 100,000 nm thick. A human hair measures roughly 50,000-100,000 nm across. A fingernail grows at a rate of one nm per second.

Nanoscale refers to measurements of 1-100 nm. A virus is about 70 nm long. A cell membrane is about 9 nm thick. Ten hydrogen atoms are about 1 nm.

At the nanoscale, unusual properties show up in many common materials. These properties can include remarkably lower resistance to electricity and faster chemical reactions. The same element (i.e. gold) can also exhibit different colours, depending upon the particle size.

Nanotechnology is the manipulation of material at the nanoscale to take advantage of these unusual properties.

Technology focuses on developing solutions that involve devices and systems that meet a given need within the constraints of the problem.

In nanotechnology, this often means manipulation of individual molecules.

Most of the information for this lesson comes from a Canadian Forest Services report. The report is written in relatively teacher-friendly language and will be useful if a teacher wants to learn a bit more about these technologies.It is summarized herehttp://canadaforests.nrcan.gc.ca/article/nanotechnology.

NANOTECHNOLOGY

Grade 6 Forestry Nano Superheros 5

Introduction to nanotechnology

Students begin with an introduction to nanoscale by completing a paper cutting exercise that will help them get a feel for its size (see Student Sheet “How Small is a Nanometre Anyway?”).

Another possibility is to show the Science Alberta Foundation video “Do You Know What Nano Means?” http://www.wonderville.ca/asset/do-you-know-what-nano-means

The video can also be viewed from the Nano Resources DVD or can be downloaded at nanolessonplans.alberta.ca.

Forestry Nano Superheroes

Tell students that nanotechnology is a new science that can help with some of these forestry issues. Have each pair choose a nano application to research. Hand out appropriate fact sheets. Each pair works together to do the research and produce the final presentation in one of the following forms:

• PowerPoint • story board • web page• flash animation • Facebook profile • YouTube video• cartoon • skit • poster• podcast • blog post • any other way your teacher approves

ASSESSMENT Rubrics for assessing several of the suggested options can be found here:

Student web page/multimedia projectwww.nald.ca/library/learning/btg/ed/evaluation/multimedia.htm

Poster rubrichttp://teacherweb.com/ME/JALeonardMiddleSchoolOldTown/Ecologywebquest/page3.htm

PowerPointhttp://www.ithaca.edu/jwiggles/computers/ppt1_rubrics.htm

6 Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures nanolessonplans.alberta.ca

1. “Nanotechnology – Canada’s Forests.” Natural Resources Canada. 3 March 2011. Web. 7 April 2011. http://canadaforests.nrcan.gc.ca/article/nanotechnology 2. McCrank, J. Nanotechnology Applications in the Forest Sector. Ottawa: Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Headquarters, Science and Programs Branch, 2009. 3. “Do You Know What Nano Means?” Wonderville. Science Alberta. 22 December 2010. Online Video. 7 April 2011. www.wonderville.ca/asset/do-you-know-what-nano-means

4. LaCombe-Burby. “Making A Poster: Poster Rubric.” Ecology WebQuest TeacherWeb. 28 July 2003. Web. April 7, 2011. http://teacherweb.com/ME/JALeonardMiddleSchoolOldTown/Ecologywebquest/page3.htm

5. Wigglesworth, Janet. “Evaluations Rubrics for Power Point Presentation # 1.” Ithaca College. January 2003. Web. 7 April 2011. http://www.ithaca.edu/jwiggles/computers/ppt1_rubrics.htm

6. Wetzel, David. “Creative Ways to use Podcasts in the Classroom.” Suite101. 7 August 2010. Web. 7 April 2011. www.suite101.com/content/creative-ways-to-use-podcasts-in-the-classroom-a271334 7. “Nanometer Ruler.” Nanozone. Lawrence Hall of Science. n.d. Web. 7 April 2011. http://nanozone.org/nanoruler.pdf 8. Cheng, Qingzheng and Wang, Jingxin. “Green Nanocomposites Reinforced with Cellulosic Crystals Isolated from Juvenile Poplar.” West Virginia University. n.d. Web. 7 April 2011. http://www.swst.org/meetings/AM10/pdfs/NT-6%20Wang%20paper.pdf 9. “Yaman Boluk, PhD.” University of Alberta. n.d. Web. 7 April 2011. www.civil.engineering.ualberta.ca/en/Research/ResearchAreas/Materials/YamanBoluk.aspx

10. Oram, Brian. “Total Phosphorus and Phosphate Impact on Surface Waters.” B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc. n.d. Web. 7 April 2011. http://www.water-research.net/phosphate.htm

RESOURCESUsing podcasts in the classroom:www.suite101.com/content/creative-ways-to-use-podcasts-in-the-classroom-a271334

BIB

LIO

GR

APH

Y

7Grade 6 Forestry Nano Superheros

How small is a nanometre?• Trace around your 30 cm ruler and cut out the tracing.• Cut the tracing in half to get a 15 cm piece.

1. A nanometre is one billionth of a metre. It takes 50,000 nanometres to go across a human hair. Predict how many more times you will need to cut the 15 cm piece in half to get a nanometre-sized piece.

Prediction:

STUDENT SHEET 1Nanotechnology Basics

2. Keep cutting each half in half as far as you can. How many cuts did you get?

Number of Cuts:

You would have to cut the piece in half 28 times to get to a nanometre!

8 Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures nanolessonplans.alberta.ca

STUDENT SHEET 2 A nano ruler

Make this ruler and measure some things in nanometreshttp://nanozone.org/nanoruler.pdf

STUDENT SHEET 3 Nano Superheros

Work with a partner and choose a nanotechnology application to research.

Read the fact sheet on your application.

Choose one of the following ways to present your Superhero:

• PowerPoint • story board • web page • flash animation • Facebook profile • YouTube video • cartoon • skit • poster • any other way your teacher approves

Create a presentation that describes your Nano Superhero’s work for forests: a. Name your Superhero. b. Draw and describe him or her. c. Describe his or her superpower. Answer the following questions: i. How does he or she come to the rescue of the forestry industry? ii. What problem is solved, and how is it better than it used to be? d. Include two or three questions that might arise from the use of this Superhero in forests and suggest some possible answers to those questions. For example, ”Will there be health risks from particles small enough to travel through cell walls?”

1

2

3

4

9Grade 6 Forestry Nano Superheros

INFORMATION SHEET 1 Cellulose NanoCrystals (CNCs) or Nanocrystalline Cellulose (NCC)

Using forests to make plastics stronger and more environmentally-friendly

• plastics are usually made from petroleum products, which are non-renewable• cellulose is a biopolymer (a useful chemical made up of many similar building blocks joined together)• cellulose is the most plentiful biopolymer in the world• cellulose makes up a large part of the cells of trees• Cellulose NanoCrystals (CNCs) come from the cellulose in tree cells• CNCs can also be produced from the papermaking process• CNCs are very tiny particles (10 nms wide by 150 nm long)• CNCs are organic, less expensive than other nonrenewable fibres, and lightweight• advantages of CNCs ♦ made from renewable resources ♦ biodegradable ♦ not made from petroleum ♦ could have lower environmental and animal/human health risks ♦ with density taken into account, they’re about 50-60 times stronger than steel ♦ lightweight • can be woven into mats and added to plastic products to make them stronger• can be used instead of more expensive non-renewable materials, such as ceramic or metal• can be used to build the materials that make cars and planes

Source

Nanotechnology applications in the forest sectorhttp://canadaforests.nrcan.gc.ca/article/nanotechnologyhttp://www.swst.org/meetings/AM10/pdfs/NT-6%20Wang%20paper.pdf

Alberta researchers studying CNCshttp://www.civil.engineering.ualberta.ca/en/Research/ResearchAreas/Materials/YamanBoluk.aspx

Alberta CNC Pilot Planthttp://www.canadaviews.ca/2011/07/05/new-facility-to-produce-wonder-material-from-forests-and-farms/

Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures nanolessonplans.alberta.ca10

INFORMATION SHEET 2Nanoparticles

Why use nanoparticles?• nanoparticles are very small (copper nanoparticles are 150-250 nm. 250 nanoparticles would fit across a human hair)• nanoparticles penetrate wood better because they’re so small• biocides are put into the nanoparticles, added to water, and then injected into wood during the normal pressure-treating process• nanoparticles also help stop the biocides from leaking out into the environment by storing them and letting them out at a controlled rate• these nanoparticles are used to treat plywood, particleboard, and fibreboard• nanoparticles can also contain chemicals that protect wood against fire and sun damage, or for colouring the wood

Source:Nanotechnology applications in the forest sectorhttp://canadaforests.nrcan.gc.ca/article/nanotechnology

Some problems with protecting wood from pests: • insects, bacteria and fungi cause a lot of damage to lumber • older wood protection products contained harmful chemicals like chromium and arsenic, which are dangerous to humans and the environment • biocide=any product that kills bacteria, insects, or fungi • newer, more organic, protection products (biocides) cause irritation to human skin

Nanotechnology to the rescue! Biocides can be put into nanoparticles and then injected into the wood (pressure-treated lumber).

Grade 6 Forestry Nano Superheros 11

INFORMATION SHEET 3Lignocellulose nanofibrils

Using nanofibrils to clean up water pollution

What is phosphate? • phosphate is a chemical that pollutes water and can cause lakes to die from lack of oxygen and sunlight • two common sources of phosphate pollution are lawn fertilizer and dishwashing detergent • phosphates go into the wastewater system and then can get into lakes through the groundwater • phosphate acts as a fertilizer—too much of it causes aquatic plants like algae to grow and choke out other plants, blocking out sunlight and destroying lakes • present methods of removing phosphate from water are not very efficient

Nanotechnology to the rescue! Nanofibrils from tree cellulose can be added to phosphate filters to make them more efficient than the most efficient methods now being used.

Why do nanofibrils work so well? • nanofibrils are more efficient because the increased surface area of tiny nanoparticles makes them more reactive—therefore, less material is needed to get the job done • these nanofibrils come from wood fibre, and are renewable • the forestry industry could become a major supplier of the lignocellulose for nanofibrils • economic studies suggest that nanofibril-based filters are inexpensive to produce

Sources:http://canadaforests.nrcan.gc.ca/article/nanotechnology http://www.water-research.net/phosphate.htm

� NOTES:

Nano is... the scientific term meaning one-billionth (1/1,000,000,000). It comes from the Greek word meaning “dwarf”.

Nano Science is... the discovery, research and understanding of all things nano.

WHAT YOU’LL FIND HERE

Nanotechnology is...the application of science at the molecular level.

Nanotechnology is revolutionizing medicine, energy production, environmental protection, bioindustries and more!