General Info
Chebiku is an interdisciplinary teaching of chemistry, biology and art for 2 school years (8/9 G8 or 9/10 G9) with a self-created modular curriculum for more than 15 years. The leading subject is art. Current modules: Natural colors and watercolors, color perception and large formats, metals and object art, inks and drawings, digital photography. Teamteaching of 2 teachers (biochemistry and art). Elective in the area of differentiation in NRW. Written subject (2 works per semester), relevant for transfer. Planning and realization of one project per course, e.g. self-construction of a periodic table of the elements with evening event and presentation. Public exhibition of a selection of the works of art at the end of the course with vernissage and press. The subject coupling is part of the school profile. Europe-wide presentation of the subject coupling 2011 in Copenhagen at Science on Stage (part of the German delegation).
Audience and Educational Framework
Educational Details
Linking the content of the scientific sub-themes with art. A high proportion of practical work on the part of the pupils through the creation of the works of art and the scientific experiments. Module Natural Colors. Isolation and biochemical analysis of natural colors (thin layer chromatography, indicator effect, antioxidative effect, microscopy); working out the significance of natural colors for plants; learning the technique of watercolor painting; creating a watercolor with natural colors. Example of a project: self-construction of a periodic table of the elements for a chemistry room with own graphic design and photos; inauguration of the periodic table with evening event with experiments. Module color perception: Perception of colors by the eye; effect of colors, color psychology; creation of a large-format picture with acrylic colors for color perception; large-format pictures are exhibited in the school building. Module Metals: The chemistry of metals (combustibility, metal oxides as color pigments; corrosion, electrical conductivity); introduction to object art; construction of a small metal art object partly with motor, LED and speech module. Ink module: Old ink formulas; magic inks; how the ink eraser works. Drawing of chemical elements with the help of ink pens. Preparation of the public exhibition: Framing of the artworks, planning of the vernissage, design and printing of flyer and poster.
The focus of the learning experience is on the fun of creative, practical work (intrinsic motivation), with the combination of imagination (art) with reason (science) and the associated higher learning yield. It is an alternative approach to the natural sciences.
chemistry and biology rooms with appropriate technology
Implementation
(where and how the practice was implemented)
In the Chebiku project there is a high level of acceptance by the students. A high percentage of practical work is available. Especially popular among female students (access for female students to the subject chemistry!). There is great appreciation through public exhibition and project. The project character is characterized by a modular curriculum and flexibility in content. There is a combination of affective components (works of art) with more logically rational science. There is a connection to the specialized curricula of chemistry, biology and art.
Imagination is more important than knowledge (A. Einstein).
Educational material/resources (file/URL) accompanying the practice
Englisch