You Know What You Teach; Bonding

Some people say that you really know and understand something when you explain it to another person or teach it to a child. This may be due to the need to simplify and use examples when teaching. By duing this you make connections you would never otherwise see in simply "learning" the material and therefore deepen your own understanding.

Take the topic of bonding from chemistry and simplify it so as to explain it to a child in third or fourth grade. There are many topics in this area from which you can select; bond types, bond representation, Lewis structures, VSEPR, hybidization, etc. Note, you need to look up the entie concept of bonding but expand on only one area. Remember, you need to expand your explanation with simple activites or everyday examples for an eight or nine year old. A possible model could be something like "You Can" by Beakman and Jax, found on the internet or in the Sunday comics, or a childs book. You have the opportunity to be creative but be sure the chemistry is correct! This asssignment will includea five minute oral presentation as well as any appropriate written work or product.