Curriculum ideas continued

So now I am pursuing the use of Biodiesel production as a thematic unit to use throughout my entire semesters classroom instruction. I have seen a correlation to certain aspects of the biodiesel refining and purity testing, and the curriculum mapping progression that I helped design for the Florence unified school district. Starting with Scientific investigation techniques that I teach first, I can have my students investigate the biodiesel production process or a thought experiment in novel energy sources and fuel. Then when I think that my class is ready, I will introduce the method of biodiesel production and have the students practice the procedure. I can then have groups of students run a batch of biodiesel changing one variable such as amount of base catalyst, amount of methanol, mixing time, temperature etc and have the students note their observations of any differences from their original biodiesel process. Of course, my instruction would re-iterate this "big idea" in science throughout the semester. Next on the FUSD curriculum map is Inquiry process which includes lab safety and measurements. The process in the production of biodiesel, must be precise, not only with the ratio of chemicals used but converting them from mass, density, liquid volume and the use of molar masses. The biodiesel production process lends itself to these practices. There is also a safety aspect to the lab as the students would be working with glassware and corrosive chemicals. Next objective is Physics. There is plenty of models or examples to be connected to physics such as the fuel providing the energy to start or stop motion, The mechanics of a diesel engine as an example of simple and complex machines and heat and pressure that enables the engine to run. The students can also investigate the energy flow of petroleum diesel versus biodiesel in the environment. For the rocket unit, (action/reaction forces), the students can compare the fuel used to launch their rocket with that of the biodiesel fuel, based on physical properties and energy potential. The chemistry and biochemistry units naturally lend themselves to the biodiesel production as the students can investigate the chemical formulas, chemical properties and chem. reactions that are present in the refinement process. There is also many refinement and purity steps that involve the use of acid test, and numbers as well. Also the concept of fuel can be brought up again, for example, cars using fuel versus humans, plants and animals. The last part of the curriculum map includes climate and earth science. Again the biodiesel solution to fossil fuel is a topic that naturally lends itself to be a unifying theme that can tie these real world issues into a bridge for the students and allow them to connect to their academic learning.