Do Your Socks Smell? Exploration of bacteria & colloidal silver
Overview
This lab will reinforce the experimental design process while also learning about nanomaterials such as colloidal silver.
Learning Objectives
Students will design an experiment to discover the antimicrobial properties of colloidal silver.
- Lesson developed from “Real Science or Marketing Hype
- ”http://www.districtor1.org/pages/uploaded_files/HighSchoolSTEM_Nanoparticles.pdf
Materials
- Colloidal Silver
- White tube socks cut into strips
- Prepared agar plates with/without E. coli
Procedure
- Distribute Nanooze article on “Smelly Feet” (electronic version http://www.nanooze.org/smelly-feet/)
- Class discussion on the article
- Students will be asked to design an experiment in pairs to test the antimicrobial properties of colloidal silver.
Experimental Design Steps:
1.Identify Problem or Question
2.Form Hypothesis
3.Procedure
4.Data & Observations
5.Conclusion
Students will design and carry out the experiment over the course of 3-5 days.
Day 1 & 2—students will read the article and design the experiment.
Day 3—students will carry out the experiment.
Days 4& 5—students will make observations, collect data and draw conclusions.
Post-lab: Students will present their experiment and results to class in 3 minute presentation.
Credits
This learning module was created by Nicole Simpsom, a participant in Indiana University-Purdue University’s NSF-Funded “Nanotechnology Experiences for Students and Teachers (NEST)” Program (Award # 1513112).