Curated OER
Condensation Polymerization: Preparation of Thiokoll® (Polysulfide Rubber)
This lab activity is geared toward experienced chemistry learners, in particular, those who are familiar with organic chemistry. They will create a synthetic elastomer and then make observations and measurements of its different...
Museum of Science
Gum Chemistry
Gum be gone! Scholars conduct an experiment to find the best substance that would help remove gum from the bottom of a shoe. They test peanut butter, petroleum jelly, olive oil, vinegar, and rubbing alcohol in their experiments.
Concord Consortium
Tire Forces
No need to tread lightly on this piece of tire rubber! Polymer science pupils observe the behavior of rubber with an interesting interactive. Users apply three different levels of force to a sample, then watch how they affect the polymer...
Curated OER
It's Natural!
Here's a nicely designed learning exercise that will allow your young scientists to learn about common materials and products that come from nature. They also looks at synthesized products that come from a factory. This simple matching...
Curated OER
Applied Science - Built Environment Lab
Young scholars evaluate trash. For this Science lesson, students collect and weigh trash from their classrooms. Young scholars categorize the trash and the corresponding weights, recording the information on a data sheet.
Curated OER
Polymers: The Discovery
Students examine various polymers. In this polymers activity, students perform three experiments with polymers to identify them and observe their interesting properties.
Curated OER
A Brief History of Rubber
Students research on the history and development of rubber. In this technology lesson, students chose three topics about rubber and research about them in detail. They create a timeline on a poster board and present it to class.
Curated OER
How Shocking
Learners describe the characteristics of polymers and rubbers and how they improve human lives. In this shock instructional activity students build a shock absorbing structure using different polymer materials.
Curated OER
Where in the World is Rubber?
Students examine rubber. In this natural rubber lesson students identify a naturally producing rubber location and present a detailed description of a rubber producing country.
Curated OER
A Brief History of Rubber
Students explore the history of rubber. In this rubber instructional activity, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the history of the product and its uses in society. Students create timelines that detail the...
Curated OER
Plastics and Rubber: What's the Difference?
Students classify household items into either plastic or rubber. In this chemistry lesson, students justify their classification system. They explain the difference between observation and inference.
Curated OER
Where in the World is Rubber?
Students research countries where rubber is naturally produced. In this geography lesson, students create a poster from their researched information. They present their poster in class.
Hartford Web Publishing
World History Archives: The Butcher of Congo
An extremely informative review of a non-fiction book, King Leopold's Ghost, by Adam Hochschild. The review contains specific quotes from the book and accurate historical research.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Rubber
Wikipedia provides detailed information on rubber, a hydrocarbon polymer. Includes information on the composition and uses of rubber.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Inventor of the Week: Wallace Carothers
This site from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology contains information on Wallace Hume Carothers and his invention of nylon.
National Inventors Hall of Fame
National Inventors Hall of Fame: Julius Nieuwland
This site honors Julius Nieuwland for his inventions of synthetic rubber, vinyl derivatives, and his method of preparing them. Content includes a brief biography of the inventor as well as a look at how his invention has impacted our...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Inventor of the Week: Charles Goodyear (1800 60)
Brief article, with biographical details, about Charles Goodyear's invention of vulcanization, a process to make rubber durable for industrial use.
Rudiments of Wisdom
Rudiments of Wisdom: Friction
Check out this cartoon that shows various types of friction.
National Inventors Hall of Fame
National Inventors Hall of Fame: Charles Goodyear
Charles Goodyear made improvements in India-rubber fabrics which eventually lead to the formation of tires. The National Inventors Hall of Fame website contains a short biography about this inventor.
Hartford Web Publishing
World History Archives: History of Capitalism in the Congo
A brief review of journalist Adam Hochschild's book "King Leopold's Ghost." The review provides some, but minimal informative historical research about the brutalities of the Congo Free State. Nevertheless, it offers an example of what...
Other
Rubber Stichting: Engineering With Natural Rubber
High level discussion of engineering-related formulas of rubber engineering.