Chemistry with a Conscience:
The Science of Shampoo
An Introduction to
Green Chemistry
in the Middle School.
Chemistry with a Conscience is a green chemistry unit placing students in the role of materials scientists creating shampoo. Basic chemistry concepts are applied in this series of lessons & labs from Beyond Benign. The lesson plans below can be used in a progression or as stand-alone lessons to reinforce middle level chemistry skills and to teach Green Chemistry practices, infusing future generations with the ability to keep our planet and our species sustained.
Introduction to Chemistry with a Conscience
Lesson Sequence
Lesson Name |
Lesson Description |
Principled Vocabulary |
Using cryptograms, students meta-cognate about the process used to infer and decode scientific vocabulary. |
Is It Easy Being Green |
Introduction to students’ green chemistry challenge. |
Cookie Equations |
Students use cookies to help them understand that chemical equations must be balanced. They manipulate simulated elements and form simulated compounds represented by cookie parts. [doc] |
The Heat Is On |
Lab activity. While creating using sodium hydroxide to create the base of their shampoos, students observe an exothermic reaction, measure the amount of heat, create a temperature over time graph showing their results, and determine ambient temperature strategies to use in the lab. |
pH Neutral |
Lab activity. Students observe, measure, and record what happens as varying amounts of an acidic solution is added to a basic solution to obtain neutralization. They do this in relation to creating a pH balanced shampoo. [doc] |
Orb-It |
Using GoodGuides.com as a basis for data, students use a graphic organizer, the orb, to make determine which shampoo is the “greenest”. [doc] [Burts Bees] [Garnier][Natures Gate] |
Shampoozled |
Lab activity. Students create a basic soap. During this process, they must monitor and maintain a set temperature range. [doc] |
Shampoozled 2 |
Lab activity. Reviewing the pH Neutral lesson, students strive to create a pH balanced shampoo and experiment with green emulsifiers. [doc] |
In A Lather |
Lab activity. Students test different variables to see if they impact the effectiveness of the shampoo. And, they answer the question, “Does the lather matter?” [doc] |
SLS Today |
After viewing a Today Show segment, students evaluate the safety of sodium lauryl sulfate in their shampoos. They analyze the toxicity of SLS. [doc] |
Breaking the Tension |
Lab activity. Students observe the effect of surface tension in water, and the dispersive force of detergents to understand how shampoos work. [doc] |
Product Test |
Lab activity. Students conduct and experiment to determine if the shampoo they created is effective in cleaning hair. [doc] |
E-factor |
In this activity from Irv Levy, students manipulate m&ms to calculate e-factor and relate it to chemistry production. [doc] [ppt] |
In Your Bathroom |
Students collect data on ingredients found in products brought from home and investigate the substances used to make these products. They use this data to practice choosing data display methods. [doc] |
| Puzzler | Students create puzzles analyzing their research on renewable and non-renewable packaging materials. [doc] |
| Packed Up Properties | Lab activity. Students use the properties of matter & the 12 Principles of Green chemistry to test various packaging materials and determine the most green & effective choice for their shampoo. [doc] |
| Water Waste | Lab activity. Students test various waste streams likely to come from household products and evaluate the environmental impacts of those wastes. [doc] |
| The Green Zine | Culminating activity. Students create a magazine test, Goodguide.com web page, and an art campaign to analyze their use of the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry and to promote their implementation. [doc] [ppt] |
- Derek Silvers: [mp4]
- DIY Cosmetics Recipes [pdf]
- Product Inventory Icebreaker [pdf]
- Shampoo Cartoons [doc]
To get these lessons, and for any questions about the content or use of these teaching materials please contact
All Green Chemistry lessons and teaching materials are provided exclusively to teachers under a Creative Commons license.
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