Gathering+Data+Through+All+Senses

//Use all your senses, stay alive, participate fully, get your hands dirty, experience it all. Don't hold back.//
 * Gathering Data Through All Senses**

In most of my classes in school, learning mostly involves using my senses of hearing (listening to teachers) and sight (reading textbooks, handouts, etc.). Despite this fact, very often in chemistry class we have opportunities to learn through our senses of touch and smell in addition to hearing and sight. By gathering data and learning through all senses, one can get more out of the experience.

In Unit 3 (chemical reactions), we did a series of experiments in small groups on the first day of the unit. We were to complete ten small activities that involved chemical reactions, and we were required to write detailed qualitative observations, making sure that we included a description of the chemical before reaction, during reaction, and after reaction. As I was completing the experiments with my partner, I found myself using most of my senses.



In experiment 2, the directions were to "Add 2 spatula's of naphthalene to a test tube. Hold the test tube with the test tube holder and heat the naphthalene by placing the test tube in a hot water bath." When I did so, I noticed that the naphthalene dissolved into liquid after a few minutes, and it also gave off a strange smell. Here I used my senses of sight and smell.

In experiment 5, the directions were to "Place approximately 2 cm of hydrochloric acid in 4 test tubes. Add one small piece of the following metals: zinc, copper, magnesium, aluminum to each tube in order." I noticed that when magnesium was added to hydrochloric acid, the test tube got hot, the magnesium fizzed and bubbled (I could hear fizzing sounds), and a bad odor was released. By using many of my senses to observe the magnesium (and other metals), I was able to learn more about the different properties of the metals depending on what sense the property was related to.

By gathering data and making observations using all senses (except for taste!), I was able to learn more through the series of experiments than if I had only observed by looking. Through activities such as the one described above that we often do in chemistry class, I've truly realized the importance of gathering information and learning through all senses.

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