Learn more about the investigation and our late, beloved colleague
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Inspirational educator and our colleague Declan McGeown died on 15 October 2022. Declan often used the investigation, Popping good chemistry, at outreach events. Learn more about the experiment and about Declan in this article.
Passionate about engaging learners with science, Declan McGeown joined the RSC as an education coordinator in April 2015. He spent several years focused on chemistry education in Ireland before joining the RSC’s Education professional development and learning team in February 2022. Declan loved sharing his expertise and knowledge of chemistry with colleagues. It is with fond memories of Declan that education coordinator Kate Whetter and former RSC colleague Beth Anderson share how they learned about the experiment, Popping good chemistry, and its development.
Flying start
Kate said, ‘We met with the other RSC education coordinators in Belfast in May 2018 to discuss best practice and Declan explained how he used the effervescence of vitamin C tablets to engage primary school learners.’ The investigation is based on the idea that when you put a tablet in water, the reaction produces carbon dioxide gas. If the reaction takes place in a closed container such as the plastic tube the tablets usually come in, the lid will explosively pop off once the tablets release enough gas. Beth said, ‘Of course, this can be an exciting investigation … waiting with anticipation for the lid to come off with a satisfying pop and flying up in the air.’
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For primary
Everything you need to run this investigation with primary learners. Full teacher notes and classroom presentation, including teaching tips and questions for discussion.
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For lower secondary
Teacher notes, a classroom presentation and student worksheet will support you to allow older learners to plan their own investigation. With integrated instructions and example results table.
Kate and Beth were excited to try the investigation but weren’t sure how to make the most of the idea with teachers. Declan offered to demonstrate the experiment and share how he delivered the pedagogy via video call from his kitchen. Did they mind if his young sons, Fionnán and Eunan, popped on the call to help? Of course they didn’t!
From their kitchens in Cornwall and Gloucestershire, Kate and Beth joined in with Declan in Northern Ireland, along with enthusiastic support from his boys, to try out the experiment. They started with half a tablet and about 30 cm3 of water and all waited expectantly for the pop. Declan, Fionnán, Eunan, Kate and Beth all squealed with delight as the lid flew off the effervescent tablet tube.
Since that kitchen video call, Declan, Kate, Beth and colleagues have taken Popping good chemistry to numerous schools and outreach events around the UK and Ireland.
Remembering Declan
When Declan sadly died, we wanted to commemorate our colleague. As well as planting a tree in his memory at the RSC’s Cambridge office and producing a memory book for his family, we decided on two education-related tributes. Firstly, RSC Education colleagues presented the inaugural Declan McGeown Outreach Award to the Queen’s University of Belfast student who has contributed most to outreach activities there. And secondly, to ensure his beloved experiment reaches more learners and promotes curiosity, we have published Popping good chemistry. Juliet Kennard, who oversees teaching resources at the RSC, has worked alongside primary and secondary school teachers to test and link the experiment to current curriculums for use in the classroom as well as outreach. In memory of Declan and his energetic spirit, we hope you enjoy Popping good chemistry.
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