Addiction

Objective: This workbook explores a historical and materials-science phenomenon: the production of casein, an early milk-based bioplastic. Students work as a team of researchers to investigate how the organic components of liquid cow’s milk can be transformed into a solid plastic through the action of acid.

Content and Methods: The content is conveyed through a combination of historical contextualization, experimental laboratory work, and material analysis: Starting with the question of how a solid material can be produced from milk, students explore the composition of milk and the effect of acids on proteins. They then experimentally extract casein, document the course of the reaction, and examine the properties of the resulting bioplastic. Finally, the results are used in a scientific application to evaluate the historical significance and material properties of casein as an alternative to plastic.

Competencies:

• Technical expertise: Understanding of protein denaturation (acid precipitation of milk protein/casein) and the classification of galalith as a historical bioplastic
• Knowledge acquisition: Planning, conducting, and systematically documenting a preparative organic chemistry experiment (filtration, solid isolation)
• Materials and testing skills: Criteria-based analysis of the physical properties of a self-produced solid
• Argumentation and language skills: Writing a technically sound report using precise scientific explanations

Target audience and level: Middle school

Objective: This worksheet explores the electrochemical fundamentals of galvanic cells and how a lemon battery works in the context of modern, sustainable technology development. Students take on the role of a startup research team to experimentally and ecologically evaluate the suitability of a lemon as an environmentally friendly electrolyte, as well as the efficiency of various electrode pairings.

Content and Methods: The content is taught by combining theoretical fundamentals, experimental data collection, error analysis, and sustainability assessment: First, students explore the structure and functioning of electrochemical cells as well as the underlying redox reactions. They then test their hypotheses in an experiment, document measurement data, and analyze typical sources of error in the laboratory. Finally, they evaluate the performance and sustainability of various materials before summarizing their results in a technical report and a persuasive presentation.

Competencies:

• Technical Competence: Understanding of redox reactions, electrode potentials, and the role of electrolytes in generating electrical power
• Data Analysis: Conducting quantitative electrochemical measurements, systematically comparing variables, and identifying sources of methodological error
• Evaluation Competence: Balancing maximum technical performance with environmental factors (extraction, recycling, toxicity) in the context of sustainable chemistry
• Communication skills: Targeted, audience-oriented presentation of laboratory data for a business analysis or an investor pitch

Target audience and level: Middle School

This worksheet aims to teach students the fundamental rules of English punctuation through a series of "detective missions". It focuses on the correct application of end marks, commas in lists, and colons to improve overall writing clarity and sentence structure.

Content and Methods: The worksheet employs a gamified "detective headquarters" theme to guide students through three targeted exercises and one comprehensive final task. It uses fill-in-the-blank sentences for end punctuation, identification tasks for commas and colons, and a final proofreading exercise where students must rewrite a continuous text by applying punctuation and capitalization correctly. A "cheat sheet" is provided to support independent learning and rule reinforcement.

Competencies:

• Punctuation Proficiency: Correct use of periods, question marks, exclamation marks, commas, and colons
• Grammar and Mechanics: Application of capitalization rules in context
• Proofreading and Editing: Identifying missing structural cues in unpunctuated text
• Syntactic Awareness: Recognizing list structures and introductory elements in sentences

Target Group: Grade 3 and above

Students playfully immerse themselves in the world of trees, solve puzzles, and identify different tree species in order to find a “forest treasure” and break a “curse.”

Content and Methods:

In an escape room scenario, students solve various puzzles related to tree species. They must identify trees based on descriptions, fill in gaps in texts, evaluate statements about trees as true or false, and classify trees as deciduous or coniferous. The worksheet also encourages students to document the trees they find, e.g., through photos or drawings.

Skills:

• Knowledge of tree species
• Analytical thinking and problem-solving
• Reading comprehension and text analysis
• Classification and categorization

Target audience and grade level:

Grade 5 and up

Objective: This worksheet aims to provide students with a basic understanding of genetic engineering and to facilitate a discussion of its advantages and disadvantages, particularly as they relate to fruits and vegetables.

Content and Methods: It explains the basics of genetic engineering and its applications (medicine, agriculture, research). The focus is on genetic engineering in fruits and vegetables, its advantages (pesticide resistance, productivity, nutritional value, climate adaptation), and concerns (environment, health, acceptance, costs). Methods include a prior knowledge assessment, multiple-choice questions, open-ended questions, and expressing an opinion in letter form.

Competencies:

• Reading comprehension of scientific texts
• Critical thinking about biotechnology
• Argumentation and written expression skills

Target audience and level: Spanish learners at B1 level

ESD:

• SDG 13 (Climate Action): Exploring climate adaptation
• SDG 15 (Life on Land): Raising awareness of biodiversity conservation

This worksheet aims to provide a comprehensive comparison between artificial and human intelligence, specifically focusing on the mechanisms of creativity and memory. It encourages students to critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of AI while reflecting on the unique qualities of human thought and emotion.

Content and methods: The worksheet employs a variety of pedagogical approaches, including comparative tables for self-assessment, creative writing prompts, and reflective questions based on personal experience. It integrates technical texts and a video lesson to explain AI learning models (supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning) and human memory types (episodic, emotional, semantic, and sensory). The material concludes with a case study on AI in a professional field and a group discussion to synthesize the ethical and social implications of human-AI collaboration.

Competencies:

• Analytical thinking: Comparing cognitive processes between machines and humans
• Media literacy: Understanding different machine learning methods and AI data sources
• Reading and audiovisual comprehension: Extracting information from specialized texts and video content
• Creative and reflective writing: Producing original content and analyzing one's own creative influences
• Ethical evaluation: Discussing the impact of AI on society, trust, and professional fields

Target group: Grade 9 and above

Objective: The worksheet serves to educate students about the growing phenomenon of artificial intelligence addiction. Students should be made aware of the line between helpful support and compulsive use, reflect on their own behavior, and develop strategies for a healthy balance.

Content and methods: The content covers the concept of AI addiction, typical characteristics of dependency such as loss of control, tolerance development, and withdrawal symptoms, as well as psychological and neurobiological causes. This is supplemented by case studies on problematic and risky use, opportunities and risks of intensive AI application, and strategies for prevention and healthy use in everyday life. The methods include self-tests and self-assessments of one's own usage behavior, explanatory information texts, comparative case analyses, structured reflection phases on warning signs and possible courses of action, as well as creative transfer tasks such as designing rule posters with dos and don'ts.

Competencies:

• Self-reflection skills: Ability to critically evaluate one's own digital usage behavior
• Analytical skills: Identification of psychological warning signs and long-term social consequences of addiction
• Action skills: Development of usage rules and solutions for regaining self-control
• Health competence: Understanding the effects of AI on emotion regulation and general well-being

Target group and level: From grade 8 onwards

Objective: This worksheet provides an in-depth understanding of the technical fundamentals and ethical implications of artificial intelligence at the upper secondary level. The aim is to go beyond mere application and understand the underlying mechanisms (such as neural networks and machine learning) and critically reflect on their social implications.

Content and methods: The content covers fundamental technical concepts of artificial intelligence such as machine learning, deep learning, and neural networks, the distinction between weak and strong AI, and the analysis of everyday digital applications according to criteria such as data volume, algorithms, and learning ability. This is supplemented by practical case studies on personalized learning systems and ethical and social issues such as bias, responsibility, and the impact on learning and creativity. The methods include technical term explanations, comparative classification tasks, scenario-based case analyses, multi-perspective role-plays from different points of interest, and stimulating discussion and position exercises in the classroom, in which learners justify and reflect on their attitudes.

Competencies:

• Technical expertise: Confident use of technical terms such as algorithms, training data, and artificial neurons.
• Analytical skills: Ability to identify the role of training data and bias in AI models.
• Ethical judgment: Reflection on data protection and discrimination risks.
• Discussion and argumentation skills: Ability to represent complex positions within a role-play and in a plenary discussion

Target group and level: From grade 10 onwards

Objective: The worksheet provides a basic understanding of how artificial intelligence (AI) works at an intermediate level. Learners should be able to distinguish AI applications from classic programs, understand the technical learning process, and critically question algorithms in everyday life.

Content and methods: The content covers the basic definition of artificial intelligence, the distinction between static programs and adaptive systems, the three-step model of how AI works (data collection, pattern recognition, application), and the opportunities and risks of recommendation algorithms, such as filter bubbles and data bias. This is supplemented by practical case studies and the transfer of knowledge to school application scenarios. The methods include explanatory text work, tabular classifications, visual process diagrams to illustrate technical processes, analytical case studies, and creative transfer tasks in which learners take on developer roles to design their own AI ideas for everyday life.

Competencies:

• Technical understanding: Understanding the logic of algorithms and machine learning
• Judgment: Reflection on the limitations and error susceptibility of AI systems
• Design skills: Development of innovative solutions for one's own environment (school)
• Analytical skills: Distinguishing between different phases of the learning process using practical examples

Target group and level: From grade 8 onwards

This worksheet aims to introduce students to the "trolley problem" as a fundamental ethical dilemma, encouraging them to evaluate moral decision-making through the lens of different philosophical theories and their modern application in artificial intelligence and autonomous driving.

Content and methods: The worksheet uses a multimedia approach, starting with a video-based discussion of the trolley scenario. It then provides informative texts on utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, and moral relativism to facilitate theoretical understanding. Students apply these concepts through comprehension questions, analytical writing tasks, and a creative "pitch" presentation where they role-play as programmers to address the ethical challenges of self-driving cars.

Competencies:

• Ethical reasoning and moral judgment
• Application of philosophical theories to modern technology
• Critical thinking and perspective-taking
• Argumentation and presentation skills
• Reading and media literacy

Target group: Grade 10 and above