Group+9+S10

**The Perfect Sunblock** A WebQuest for High School Chemistry Designed by Brittney Hui and Jonathan Woo (Group 9)  **Introduction** Although sunblock is commonly thought of as a great protector against skin cancer and sunburns, there are damaging effects of sunblock too. Some have argued that certain brands of sunblock contain free radicals that are harmful for your skin; others argue that some brands contain chemicals that affect hormones in adolescence.

 **The Task** Congratulations! You have just been hired by a major cosmetic company to formulate the perfect sunblock. Using your knowledge of chemistry and the resources below, make a list of ingredients that are necessary for making the perfect sunblock. In order for the company to invest in your idea, you must explain why each ingredient is essential. Also, list some common ingredients that you will leave out of the sunblock and the reasons why they are excluded. Pick a team of researchers to help you in your task. Finally, create a PowerPoint presentation that you will present with your team to the company's board of directors. If you find that your research is still lacking in certain areas, perhaps you and your team can propose a scientific research question or idea that needs to be further explored.

 **The Process**
 * 1) Create your team of researchers.
 * 2) Brush up on your knowledge of [|how sunblock works] (if you have a subscription to BrainPop, this is a helpful resource; if not use this link). Those board members don't know anything about chemistry, that's why they hired you to explain it to them!
 * 3) The [|Environmental Working Group]has provided some guidelines for sunscreen users. Make sure to consider their ideas when creating your lists of ingredient.

Other resources to address some good and bad ingredients:
 * 1) <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">[|Does sunscreen damage skin?]
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">[|Video on Free radicals and Antioxidants]
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">[|Dr. Sugar and Oxybenzone]

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">**Evaluation** <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">You will be evaluated by your group presentation according to the following standards and objectives:
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Presentation skills:
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Enunciation
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">PowerPoint slides should be organized and easy-to-read
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Presentation should be no longer than 10 minutes
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Name common, essential ingredients of sunblock and how they contribute to sunblock's effects
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Creativity of ingredient combination
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Ingredients should address the different health risks addressed in the links provided
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Marketing of product
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Create an innovative slogan
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Create product name and logo
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Demonstration of individual knowledge of content
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">All students will create their own mini-report of WebQuest findings and explain the group's sunblock product
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Provide at least two further research questions

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Be sure to address all common ingredients that should and should not be included in your sunscreen. Also, provide the science behind why it is a good ingredient or a bad ingredient to add.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">**Conclusion** <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">By the end of this WebQuest you should have: <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Questions for further investigation:
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Created a list of ingredients that will or will not be in your perfect sunblock
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Provided the scientific explanation for why it made it to the list or did not
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Explained how free radicals damage your skin and how antioxidants combat it
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Written a research question that you would like to explore to help create an even better sunblock
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">If someone could not afford your sunscreen or they left it at home, what suggestions would you give so that they could protect themselves from harmful UV rays while going to the beach?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">What products could be used with your new sunblock to enhance the experience of using it (i.e. how to get rid of the oily feel on your skin)?

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">**Credits & References** <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Thanks to Dr. Chris Halter for help and advice!

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">All images are original.