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The existence of an object, non-superimposable on its mirror image, constitutes the phenomenon of chirality. This phenomenon is often treated as a curiosity without broader practical consequences. This paper aims to show the significant implications of chirality for chemistry and biology. Chirality is inherent to all living organisms and is essential for their function. For instance, biomolecules are composed of chiral building blocks (amino acids, monosaccharides), which are chiral and occur predominantly with one sense of handedness (homochirality of life). The explanation of the evolution of the homochirality of life therefore helps answer one of the important questions connected with the origin of life.. The paper concludes with a section devoted to current Czech stereochemical terminology. An experimental procedure describing the isolation of carvone enantiomers from natural sources is also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existence of an object, non-superimposable on its mirror image, constitutes the phenomenon of chirality. This phenomenon is often treated as a curiosity without broader practical consequences. This paper aims to show the significant implications of chirality for chemistry and biology. Chirality is inherent to all living organisms and is essential for their functioning. For instance, biomolecules are composed of chiral building blocks (amino acids, monosaccharides), which are chiral and occur predominantly with one sense of handedness (homochirality of life). The explanation of the evolution of the homochirality of life is therefore one of the important questions connected with the origin of life. The paper also shows why asymmetry with respect to mirror reflection is a general attribute of our world. Historical milestones in the scientific reflection on chirality are also presented, starting with the French crystallographers of the late 18th century, through the work of Pasteur, the fundamentals of organic stereochemistry postulated by van 't Hoff and Le Bel, the elucidation of a structure of monosaccharides by Fischer, and ending with the discovery of the absolute configuration of a molecule and the confirmation of parity violation of weak interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The understanding of technical concepts is a prerequisite for science education. Education cannot proceed satisfactorily unless the teacher and the pupil have the same (or at least very similar) conceptions of the same content under the same word. The process of concept acquisition (crystallization) starts with motivation (the pupil’s willingness to acquire the concept), proceeds through isolated models and their generalization to generic models and abstraction. In this paper, one of the pathways by which crystallization can be fostered, i.e., systematic work with isolated models, is presented. Examples representing typical models, atypical models and apparent models are sought for basic systematic categories (classification of birds, fish, etc.). For reference purposes, QR codes linking to worksheets for teachers and pupils are embedded in the paper. This method can be recommended for practicing the understanding of all taxonomic categories as well as other abstract scientific concepts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most woody plants belonging to the order Pinales have needles. Their anatomy has adapted to external conditions – mainly the deficit of water during winter. In cross section, the needles are different in shape, but the leaf anatomy of coniferous species is quite similar. However, there are inter-species differences in arrangement of hypodermis, in the type of mesophyll, in the number and arrangement of resin ducts, and in the number of vascular bundles. Needles are a suitable material for Biology lectures. Their advantage is their availability every season of the year. This paper offers some options for the observation of needle anatomy, recognition of species differences, and the use of an anatomical identification key. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the order Neuroptera (net-winged insects), we find aquatic larvae in two families: lance lacewings (Osmylidae) and spongillaflies (Sisyridae). The giant lacewing (Osmylus fulvicephalus) is the only species of the Osmylidae in the Czech Republic. The adults are diurnal or crepuscular weak-flying insects which mostly prey on small invertebrates, supplementing their diet with some pollen. Eggs are deposited in damp places, usually near fresh water. Adults have transparent spotted wings, and short, thin antennae. They have two compound eyes, as well as three ocelli in-between. Giant lacewing larvae have peculiar mouthparts which look like a thin forceps with the ends bending outwards. The body is elongated and slender and terminates in two extensible graspers bearing tiny hooks; these are used to aid in locomotion and to grasp prey. The larvae are associated with damp, mossy habitats and are amphibious. They hunt small invertebrate prey, from which they suck the body fluids with their mouthparts. Giant lacewing larvae are best collected by picking through mosses and stones along the edges of streams. The forewings of adult spongillaflies (Sisyridae) have a span of 4-10 millimeters, and their wings are grayish or brownish, folded like a roof The sessile eggs of Sisyridae are laid singly, or in groups, on objects that overhang water. Their water larvae have spindly legs, long antennae, and flexible, threadlike mouthparts. However, the second and third instars carry seven pairs of jointed, movable tracheal gills beneath their plump abdomens. Sisyridae larvae probe sponges with their long, flexible mouthparts. They are believed to feed exclusively on freshwater sponges, and they are unique among the Neuroptera in having segmented abdominal gills that function for breathing. After feeding and development, the mature larvae swim to the shore, attach to objects close to the water, and spin double-layered cocoons within which they pupate. Rearing Sisyridae larvae in the lab can be complicated due to the difficulty of keeping their sponge host and food source alive. Larval Sisyridae can be collected via a variety of methods, including taking them by hand from sponges, using benthic samplers in lo tic habitats. This paper describes the conditions for rather short-term rearing of the larvae of lance lacewings and spongilla flies and some ideas for experiments and observations in a school aquarium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practical exercises should form an essential component of high-quality first aid courses. However, incorporating them into school curricula often encounters several challenges. Among the most prevalent issues are the insufficient availability of resources, primarily resuscitation mannequins, and the relatively large class sizes. These factors can result in limited space for effective hands-on exercises for every student within a single class session. To address this, one potential solution involves dividing the students into smaller groups. In this approach, the teacher can focus individually on guiding practical exercises for one group, while the remaining students engage in alternate activities, such as completing independent worksheets. The groups can subsequently rotate, ensuring that all students receive dedicated attention during the lesson. Consequently, the objective of our research was to develop a collection of educational tasks designed to be compiled into worksheets, facilitating independent work among students. We devised a total of nine distinct task types, presented in four different variations (yielding a total of 36 tasks), and organized them into four comprehensive worksheets. Subsequently, we evaluated the practicality of these worksheets through a trial involving 86 elementary school pupils. The assessment questionnaire indicated that the tasks were highly practical, comprehensible, suitably challenging, and relatively enjoyable, according to the feedback from the students. The paper contains more detailed information about the evaluation process, as well as a link to download all of the prepared worksheets, including the author’s solutions and methodological recommendations for teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fieldwork education is a mandatory part of the educational process in Czechia. Within the framework of education, it is also recommended to use interdisciplinary (intersubject) relationships. However, such fieldwork education, which would ac- centuate this interdisciplinarity, is often absent from the conceptual strategy of schools in Czechia, or interdisciplinary links are often implemented randomly in fieldwork education. Their educational potential is used only to a small extent. The aim of this paper is to describe the didactic concept of the Geocamp summer school, which took place in July 2023 in the Ralsko National Geopark with the participation of experts from GeoCamp Iceland and, from a didactic point of view, focused precisely on the development of interdisciplinary relationships within the framework of fieldwork education and mainly in the educational area of Man and Nature at the elementary school level (ISCED level 2). Emphasis was also placed on the connection with the cross-cutting topic of Environmental Education (formation of a relationship to a place). The teaching is based on the constructivist concept; it is also based on the concept of inquiry-based learning and conceptual learning, uses various forms of fieldwork, and is aimed at fulfilling cognitive, conative, but also affective educational goals and the development of several important student competencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Can chemical experiments also motivate students during distance learning if experiments that students are able to perform at home are selected? This paper presents the results of a research survey concerning the attitudes of 2nd-year grammar school students to home chemical experiments performed during distance learning. The paper also includes instructions for specific validated experiments, applicable in the home environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses carnivorous plants in biology education. It presents the results of a content analysis of the Czech curriculum and textbooks for teaching the thematic area of Plant Botany intended for students of secondary education. The aim of the research was to find out whether specific teaching about carnivorous plants is present in these documents and, if they are, to clarify its nature. Eighteen textbooks for the second level of primary school and two textbooks for upper secondary schools were analyzed. The results of the content analysis show that the concept of carnivorous plants does not exist in the Framework Educational Program for Primary Education, but there are themes that can be developed through the teaching of carnivorous plants. In 67% of the textbooks for primary education there was at least one mention of carnivorous plants, with the most frequent mention being of the round-leaved sundew as a plant found in Czech peat bogs, followed by information on how they “hunt”, what other functions the leaves have, or “why these plants are carnivorous”. Both textbooks analyzed for secondary schools contained brief information about carnivorous plants. The results showed no association between the frequency of information on carnivorous plants and the number of pages, valid Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports endorsement, the designated year, the year of first publication, and the authors of the textbooks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computer simulations are a good example of the use of ICT in teaching science subjects. They allow students to have a more detailed view of the principle of the real system under study and thus offer new possibilities to support teaching. However, with the increasing availability of online simulations, the problem of selecting them for a specific teaching situation arises. This paper focuses on the mapping of criteria for the evaluation of computer simulations, using the example of electrolysis and galvanic cell as important representatives of the electrochemistry curriculum. The evaluation criteria were selected based on the analysis of several research studies conducted in the field of the application of simulations to chemistry teaching. These criteria were then used to evaluate the cocreated online available simulations of electrolysis and galvanic cell. From the results of the fulfillment of the selected criteria, computer simulations for teaching electrochemistry in high school are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrolysis has long been a well-known and relatively widespread process in education at primary and secondary schools, which is used mainly as a demonstration experiment in front of students. We most often encounter simpler applications (for example, electrolysis of water or sodium or copper (II) chloride solution). This paper is focused on the lesser-known electrolysis of aqueous solutions of metal salts, which precipitate in a crystalline form in the form of micro trees (dendrites) when an electric current passes through it. For example, dendrites of tin, lead, silver, or copper, which differ in shape, can be prepared in this way. Dendrites are stable and can be easily isolated from a solution. The purpose of the paper is to bring electrolysis closer to high school students, which is effective and very interesting for them, but at the same time financially inexpensive and saves time, because these crystallizations take place in minutes and students can directly observe the nascent product. The paper also evaluates selected conditions (the influence of the substances used and their concentration in a solution, size of applied voltage, electrode material), which can have a fundamental influence on the rate of crystal formation or their shape and size. The theoretical background of electrolysis is mentioned only marginally in the paper, because it is quite extensive, complex, and not crucial for the given matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sketchnoting is a method of non-linear note-taking using text and visual elements. The product of sketchnoting is a sketchnote – a visual-textual object that captures information from the words heard. Information is represented by text, symbols, arrows, frames, and other visual elements. Sketchnoting emanates from the theory of dual coding and the theory of multimedia learning, which are based on the fact that a learner retains information more permanently if he/she processes it verbally and visually at the same time. Sketchnoting is applicable to the learning process, as in the course of creation of a sketchnote, a learner concentrates, thinks and evaluates what to record, distinguishes the relevance of information, and works with his/her imagination. In this paper, we address sketchnoting as a tool to support learning and it shows examples from the content of the subject of geography. With this paper, our aim is to disseminate this method to geography teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with an experiment during the bachelor’s study at the Department of Chemistry, FPE UWB in Pilsen and its importance for the training of future chemistry teachers. The focus of the work is in the organization and content of laboratory exercises in organic chemistry. This ranges from the classic concept of laboratory exercises to procedures appropriate to current legislation and pursuing economic and environmental considerations. The exercises are spread over six working days and include work with smaller quantities of substances in addition to macro scale work. Particular attention is paid to the preparation of ethyl acetate using the classical method, including analysis of the individual steps of the procedure. A modified esterification procedure suitable for use in secondary education is also mentioned. In addition to work based on synthesis, the isolation of natural substances is also applied. Much attention is paid to the work on the stabbing and chromatographic methods. The importance of quoted sources for a deeper understanding of the incremental problems of certain procedures is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is based on a literature review and subsequent analysis of found publications published in the years 2000–2020 which showed an increasing trend in the use of mobile applications in science teaching and the current issues of using mobile applications as a support tool for science teaching. One of the main reasons for the use of mobile applications in science teaching is the modernization of teaching methods, to expand knowledge, to evaluate and test knowledge, to engage students and so on. Based on these conclusions, a search was made of available mobile applications that can be used to support the teaching of chemistry on the Google Play, Microsoft Store, and App Store platforms and their didactic analysis focused on their content and interactivity. The structure of the atom was chosen as the thematic area, which is especially demanding in initial chemical education for the creation of mental models. The use of visualizations in mobile applications can facilitate this situation or, conversely, lead to misconceptions. There are mobile applications on the market that are suitable for teaching. After entering the keyword “atom”, there is a large number of applications on the menu and it is necessary to select the most suitable one according to the specific educational goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]