Often in the science classroom, I have students create and give a presentation that highlights what they learned about a topic.
Students will compare the strengths of oxidizing and reducing agents, and determine resistance to different etching solutions. Students will work in small groups, developing laboratory skills while conducting a lab on electroplating.
Chemistry happens in the world around us, not just in a lab. Every time we cook or clean, it's chemistry in action. Chemists actually spend a great deal of time writing and reading science literature in order to communicate their results and ideas to one another.
Students will build a simple spectrometer, and test it to determine the optimal angle for the CD to be placed. They will document both their process and their findings, and share their results with the class in a multimedia presentation.
Students and teachers often view laboratory investigations as exercises in following directions, which grossly misrepresents the scientific process. Experimentation involves careful and methodological application of scientific principles, in which peers critique communicated results.