Topic: Alcohols - effects on the human body

Target group

Elementary school student (grades 7. and 8.)

Core curriculum:

Elementary school. Chemistry.

IX. Hydrocarbon derivatives. Pupil:

2) examines selected physical and chemical properties of ethanol; describes the properties and applications of methanol and ethanol; writes the combustion equations of methanol and ethanol; describes the negative effects of methanol and ethanol on the human body.

General aim of education

The student discusses the influence of monohydric alcohols on the human body.

Key competences

• communication in the mother tongue;

• communication in foreign languages;

• mathematical competence and basic competences in science and technology;

• digital competence;

• learning to learn.

Criteria for success
The student will learn:

• list and discuss the use of methanol and ethanol;

• list and discuss the effects the negative effects of methanol and ethanol on the human body.

Methods/techniques

• expository

  • talk.

• activating

  • discussion;

  • mind map.

• exposing

  • film.

• programmed

  • with computer;

  • with e‑textbook.

• practical

  • exercices concerned.

Forms of work

• individual activity;

• activity in pairs;

• activity in groups;

• collective activity.

Teaching aids

• e‑textbook;

• notebook and crayons/felt‑tip pens;

• interactive whiteboard, tablets/computers;

• sheets of gray paper;

• colored markers.

Lesson plan overview

Introduction

1. The teacher hands out Methodology Guide or green, yellow and red sheets of paper to the students to be used during the work based on a traffic light technique. He presents the aims of the lesson in the student's language on a multimedia presentation and discusses the criteria of success (aims of the lesson and success criteria can be send to students via e‑mail or posted on Facebook, so that students will be able to manage their portfolio).

2. The teacher together with the students determines the topic – based on the previously presented lesson aims – and then writes it on the interactive whiteboard/blackboard. Students write the topic in the notebook.

Realization

1. The teacher introduces students to the subject of the lesson, asking them the question: „Which products can contain ethyl alcohol in your opinion?”. Students write their answers in the form provided in the abstract. Volunteers read their answers, the teacher corrects mistakes.

2. The teacher divides the class into groups, distributes sheets of gray paper and colored markers. Students, using the Internet, textbook and e‑textbook, create maps of thoughts about the application of alcohol. After completion of activities, the group leaders present the effects of work.

3. The teacher announces a movie titled „Detecting the presence of ethanol”. He instructs his students to write a research question and a hypothesis in the form provided in the abstract. Then he plays the video and the students note their observations and conclusions. Volunteers read them. The teacher encourages young people to discuss, referring to their inferences.

4. The teacher invites students to watch the film „Influence of ethanol on egg white”. The students act as before: they write down the research question, hypothesis, observations and conclusions in the form.

5. The teacher refers to the reaction of ethanol to egg protein to the effects of ethanol on the human body, e.g. destruction of the mucous membrane. He encourages students to discuss the impact of methanol and ethanol on the human system. The participants should give different examples of negative impacts. Students write their observations in the form in the abstract.

6. Students analyze the information contained in the table showing the influence of blood alcohol content on the behavior of a person and discuss them on the class forum. The teacher asks students to define the concept of alcoholism.

7. Students, working individually or in pairs, carry out interactive exercises to check and consolidate knowledge learned during the lesson. Selected people discuss the correct solutions for interactive exercises. The teacher completes or straightens the statements of the proteges.

Summary

1. The teacher plays the recording of the abstract. Every now and then he stops it, asking the students to tell in their own words what they have just heard. In this way, students consolidate information learned during the lesson and practice listening comprehension.

2. The teacher asks the students to finish the following sentences:

   • Today I learned ...

   • I understood that …

   • It surprised me …

   • I found out ...

   The teacher can use the interactive whiteboard in the abstract or instruct students to work with it

Homework

1. Carry out task number nr 5.1.

The following terms and recordings will be used during this lesson

Terms

Texts and recordings

Alcohols - effects on the human body

The word alcohol is associated with alcoholic beverages available in stores. Beer, wine, vodka and spirits differ in the percentage of ethyl alcohol. However, each of these drinks works similarly on the human body and with excessive consumption can be dangerous.

Alcohol consumed in small amounts causes a fake feeling of heat – it accelerates blood circulation, which in turn leads to faster cooling of the body. In winter, people who previously drank alcohol are often victims of frost. Addiction to alcohol is a disease called alcoholism. Alcoholism occurs when about 25% of calories delivered to the body during the week comes from drinking alcohol. When the number of calories from alcohol is more than 80% per week, we talk about extreme alcoholism. Alcoholism is a physical and mental addiction to alcohol.

Ethyl alcohol is the cause of severe liver, kidney, stomach and heart diseases, negatively affects the human nervous system. Consumed in larger quantities it impairs rational thinking, reduces self‑criticism and causes rush. Speech disorder appears and the coordination of movements disappears. Young people are the most exposed, because their developing brain cells are damaged. The dose that causes alcohol intoxication depends on the body's endurance.

Methanol has many common properties with ethanol. These include: colour, smell, taste or solubility in water. Therefore, these alcohols are sometimes confused. Strong poisoning occurs due to mistaken drinking of methanol. The optic nerve, retina and cornea are damaged the most quickly, which results in irreversible loss of vision. There is no way to distinguish methanol from ethanol in home. The alcohols look, smell and taste exactly the same and combust with the same flame. There are known analytical methods that allow to distinguish these alcohols, but these are not widely available.

• Ethyl alcohol has a negative effect on the human body.

• Methyl alcohol has many common properties with ethanol, its accidental intake may cause death.

• In Poland, it is prohibited to buy and consume ethyl alcohol by people under 18 years of age.