Chemistry and Children’s Literature:: Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie

• Autores: Patricia B. McKean
• Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 86, Nº 9 (September), 2009, págs. 1019-1020
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Many children and adults look forward to holidays—for example, the Fourth of July and Halloween—when inexpensive light sticks are easily accessible in the form of wristbands, headbands, and other paraphernalia. We are fascinated with the magic of a lightstick that can be “snapped” to produce light without heat. Lightsticks provide an opportunity for students of all ages to make careful observations over a period of time. This activity directs students to observe what happens when lightsticks are placed in three different temperature environments: glasses with hot water, room temperature water, and ice water. Students record changes in the light intensity of each lightstick during the first hour and during the rest of the school day. A history of lightsticks shows how they have been used in swordfishing and rescue efforts for trapped miners. Fireflies use a similar “cool” light during mating and communication. What may seem at first glance to be a novelty or toy becomes a hook to awaken student curiosity and segue into a great experiment to perhaps conduct on a dark, dreary rainy day. The lightstick activity is presented through a children's literature connection, the book Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie.