Kathy Beckman

Kathy Beckman

It’s MOLE DAY (10/23) in AP Chemistry!

Goal: The idea is to celebrate the standard unit of measurement for amount of substance & get students excited about an important aspect of Chemistry.

The Project:

Every year Kathy Beckman celebrates Mole Day with her AP Chemistry students.  Alumni/past students are invited to return to class and join in the festivities.  This week is a highlight for AP Chemistry students (past and present), and they often put in extra effort to make their projects fun and unique.

• Students know that a Mole is 6.02 x 1023.

• Students pick any form of presentation or creation to demonstrate and celebrate the Mole.  Over the years, student projects have included; songs, puppet shows, artwork, video production, carved pumpkins, sculptures, and a LOT of food! 

Kathy references the National Mole Day Foundation (Moleday.org) and promotes each year’s theme. 

This year's theme-- MoleWars: May the MOLES be with you!

Themes in the past include: 

Mole-o-ween

AniMOLE Kingdom

Moler Eclipse

Rock N' MOLE

and many more...

Each year Kathy makes a collage of the finished products and displays that collage in her room.

Her favorite part of this celebration is the opportunity for getting to know her students on a new level.  AP courses have so much material to cover that they are often all-business.  Mole Day allows Kathy and her students to have some fun, and she gets to see all of the other talents her students possess.  Around her room, you will find student projects going as far back at the 90’s.  There are quite a few treasures from over the years!