SPE & Girl Scout Councils

Polymer Structures

Goal: Scouts will understand the difference between natural and synthetic plastic. Scouts will understand the structure of polymers.

Supplies: balloons*, skewers (thin), hand lotion, cooked and uncooked spaghetti (or use paper clip polymer model). (*These items are in the Color Your World with Polymer Science kit found at the scout store.) 

Activity:  

• Watch Polymeric Structures video. (Grades K-5 watch video until 2.20 minutes). 
• Grades K-5: Create models of polymer structures (paper or human chains).
• Grades 6-12: Manipulate polymers of a balloon. See below.
• Grades 6-12: Research what a particular polymer looks like and recreate it. Using discarded plastic items, either consumer goods or packaging, design a creative or artistic model of a polymer. Use discarded plastic items, either consumer goods or packaging and design a creative or artistic model of a polymer. Scouts can research what a particular polymer looks like and recreate it. For example: polyethylene is used to make laundry detergent bottles and the chemical formula is (C2H4)n and can be modeled like: 

Human Polymer chain model: Each scout represents a monomer. Hold hands to form a single straight polymer. Have the girls move around the room as a polymer. Now create two parallel polymer lines. Crosslink the polymer by asking 2-3 girls to connect the two lines by holding hands (think of an “H” formation). Have the girls move around the room again. Is it easier to move around the room as a single polymer or as a crosslinked polymer? 

Paper Chain Polymer model: Each paper chain is a monomer. Connect them in a single chain to make a polymer. Move the polymer chain around and notice how easily it moves. Crosslink the polymer by taking two single lines and attaching one or two links between the lines (think of an “H” formation). Move it around. Notice how it is more difficult to move the crosslinked polymer.

Manipulate Polymers: For the balloon activity follow the directions in the video. Before inserting the skewer into the balloon, slide it into the hand lotion bottle to make the skewer slippery. When inserting the skewer into the balloon start at the knotted end (but not in the knot) and insert into the darkest area where the polymers are denser. Bring the skewer out the opposite end again where it is the darkest therefore densest area. Move slowly and twist the skewer into the balloon. 

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