The Cave of Dogs, A CO2 Science Mystery!
This one time STEM class explores Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and the properties of gases in some fun and interesting ways as we create, capture, and study CO2 in a quest to solve a mystery that is hundreds of years old.
Robert Grover
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(21)
What's included
1 live meeting
50 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
Introduction What on earth is this crazy Cave of Dogs mystery all about? Imagine a mysterious cave in Italy that effects people and animals quite differently as they enter it and explore. Such a place actually exists, it is called the “Grotta del Cane” or the Cave of Dogs and it is located near Naples, Italy. This science mystery is all about Carbon Dioxide (CO2), an important gas that is an integral part of our ecosystem. Plants eat it, we exhale it, and too much of it can be harmful!! In this one time class we will learn about CO2 by solving the mystery of the Cave of Dogs as we create, measure and experiment with CO2! Class Experience This one time class, the first of a series of related classes investigating STEM topics, will be presented with three hands-on activities that can be replicated by the student at home with simple materials after the class. We will also use a CO2 sensor to read and measure CO2 as part of this experience. The CO2 sensor is in an awesome science product called “databot” that we will use in this ongoing STEM series exploring science through hands-on activities and real scientific data. databot can visualize data from 11 different sensors that enable you to study physics, the environment, life science, chemistry, and earth science. Purchasing a databot is recommended for conducting measurements and explorations at home. See materials for more information. Prerequisite Knowledge None required
Learning Goals
Concepts Addressed in this Class
The Cave of Dogs experiment is an engaging and fun experience for students as we facilitate a chemical reaction that gives off CO2 that is captured in a balloon enabling us to replicate the mysterious Cave of Dogs scenario. From the reaction and experiment, students see and experience the following:
* Different types of substances can “react” with one another to create a chemical change in the substances.
* Chemical reactions can cause physical and chemical changes in substances - even creating gas where there was none before.
* Gases have weight, and different gases are heavier or lighter than others.
* CO2 is an invisible and odorless gas.
* CO2 is deadly to animals in concentrated amounts.
* CO2 is heavier than air.
* CO2 is exhaled by human beings.
* CO2 levels in the air around us vary depending on many factors.
* CO2 can be generated through a chemical reaction of baking soda and vinegar.
* A fumarole is a volcanic vent, an opening in the earth’s crust, that emits steam and gases.
Important Terms
* Carbon Dioxide
* Weight
* Volume
* Density
* Chemical Reaction
* Reactant
* Product
* Fumarole
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS
The NGSS is a significant body of work that helps educators identify what and how to teach in order to prepare students properly for understanding science and the concepts and practices associated with it. This class addresses several important standards & practices in part or full as follows. You can see the complete body of work at https://nextgenscience.org
* 5-PS1-1: Develop a model to describe that matter is made of particles too small to be seen.
* 5-PS1-4: Conduct an investigation to determine whether the mixing of two or more substances results in new substances.
* MS-PS1-2: Analyze and interpret data on the properties of substances before and after the substances interact to determine if a chemical reaction has occurred.
* NGSS Practice 4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data
Excerpt: When possible and feasible, students should use digital tools to analyze and interpret data. Whether analyzing data for the purpose of science or engineering, it is important students present data as evidence to support their conclusion.
Other Details
Supply List
The following materials are required if you want to do the CO2 activities at home after seeing how to do them in class: * Cutouts from a provided worksheet that you print at home. You will use these to simulate and label your cave environment. * Clear cellophane tape. * 3 Tea Candles * Lighter - I recommend a long handled one for safely lighting the candles in the vase. * Blocks such as LEGO or wooden blocks that can be used to place candles at different heights inside the vase. * A rectangular or oval vase to simulate the cave. I found one online at michaels.com that worked well for about $18. Dimensions are 6.5" x 5.7" x 11.2". You can also simulate the cave in a large jar or other container, you just need room to place the three candles at different heights. * Measuring cups - 1 cup and 1/4 cup * Baking soda * Vinegar * 2 liter plastic bottle * 2 Round 12" Balloons (probably have a few spares just in case) * 1 - yardstick & cloth measuring tape * 3 - binder clips * 4 - paper clips * 1 - pencil or dowel & a heavy book / weight Optional but recommended: databot science sensor device that connects to your smartphone and displays data! It's available at https://databot.us.com. $179.99. When you sign up you will receive a discount coupon code and pricing in your class handout. databot will be used in a number of classes similar to the Cave of Dogs and is a great tool for learning to visualize and study scientific data in fun and engaging ways.
1 file available upon enrollment
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined April, 2020
5.0
21reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
30 Years in STEM Education!!
Hi, I’m Robert Grover and I’ve been teaching STEM for over 30 years. I was recruited fresh out of college with degrees in English (writing) and Business Management to help document a new educational program (robots in 1988!!) that was operating in our city and I have been teaching ever since! I started out teaching robotics and coding and have worked my way through everything from drones and electronics to many science topics. I love learning and exploring new things so find myself tinkering a lot. Professionally I’ve done many things - teaching, writing, business development, management, product design, and more. I’ve had the great good fortune to travel the world and work with educators, business people, engineers, and students in many different countries and cultures.
What I Do Now
In 2018 myself, my wife, and our awesome Aussie engineer friend partnered up and created a new STEM education company that has created an exciting new teaching device. It's called "databot." databot was created in response to a serious need in schools for a friendly, approachable, inexpensive, sensing device that can be used for science and technology education. I'll be using databot in some of the classes I teach to highlight sensor based science topics like exploring CO2. Class participants are not required to buy one but they are a remarkable tool and you get a class discount if you would like one. Just email me and ask about it and I'll get you the details. You can see databot at the following URL:
https://databot.us.com
Types of Classes
The various classes I will be offering will range through a variety of STEM topics including things like understanding carbon dioxide, doing experiments that result in temperature changes, understanding the physics of motion, studying magnetic fields, studying visible and ultraviolet light, and more. We may even stray into engineering, robotics, and coding topics as technology and science are intertwined and connected in many fascinating and beautiful ways.
My Method & Philosophy
My method of teaching will vary depending on the topic, but classes will always involve hands-on explorations of some type. I believe engagement is key to learning and if a student is excited about what they are learning, the rest becomes very easy. There is a great book on creativity called “The Element” from a very smart fellow named Sir Ken Robinson. I refer back to this frequently because I believe in the premise. The “element” refers to that magical point where a student’s passion intersects with their talent, and sometimes this takes years to find. Once they’ve discovered their element, however, people naturally excel. I think education, as much as possible, should strive to help students find their element so my classes will be designed to help students discover their passion through interesting explorations. I've also taken a keen interest in the past few years in critical thinking skills and what it will really take to be successful in today's global economy. Students need to be able to discern fact from fiction and understand how to interpret data to make good decisions. You can read more about my thoughts on this and how they relate to databot in one of my blog articles here:
https://databot.us.com/2019-02-04-the-data-we-share/
Thanks for checking out my profile and I hope to see your students in my classes very soon!
Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$15
per classMeets once
50 min
Completed by 80 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-12
3-10 learners per class
