High school teachers - Multi-disciplinary curriculum
Salt is an essential component of our daily lives with more than 14,000 known uses. Many of these uses derive from the chemical properties of sodium and its essential role in human and animal nutrition. Salt, thus, can be used to illustrate -- and teach -- principles of chemistry, biology, geology, history and economics, among others.
The Salt Institute has received thousands of requests from students working on their science papers or projects and from many instructors seeking information. We have prepared a multi-disciplinary curriculum that includes our most-requested information. It is organized in easy-to-use subject-specific modules, together with some classroom presentation ideas. Student activity pages (together with answers for you, the teacher) promote interactive learning.
This package was prepared in consultation with a group of your peers who have helped us sharpen our focus and present the materials in the most effective manner for your classroom use. We know we can further improve this product, however, and invite your feedback.
The experiments and other activities described in the attached materials should only be conducted by high school studends with the appropriate safety equipment and under the direct supervision of adults at all times. The Salt Institute assumes no liability for any injuries, claims, costs (including attorney's fees) or damages resulting directly or indirectly from such activities.
Should you or your students require additional support or information, please contact us here at the Salt Institute.
Download the curriculum (pdf 1.13 MB)
You may wish to augment these materials with other Salt Institute publications (all free). Among those best suited for classroom use are the following:
Map of North American salt deposits and production facility locations (pdf 382.58 kB)
"Salt" -- Modern Marvels, The History Channel, 2008
"Salt Mines" -- Modern Marvels, The History Channel, 2006
Food Salt
Informational website: salthealth.org
It's Time to End the War on Salt, Scientific American, July 2011
Road Salt
Informational website: safewinterroads.org
Highway Salt and Our Environment (pdf 158.58 kB)
Water Softening
Informational website: water-softening.org
Softened Water Saves for Homes (pdf 588.74 kB)