Abstract
There is value in connecting course topics to real-world situations to which students can relate. Such approaches can allowstudents to develop critical thinking skills, show the broader societal impacts of the discipline, inform social consciousness, and incorporate diverse perspectives. Four approaches to bring context into the analytical chemistry curriculum are presented. These include both classroom and laboratory activities. Activities incorporated into quantitative analysis, instrumental analysis, and advanced environmental chemistry courses are described. All activities involve students working in small groups and incorporate the use of primary literature. For each approach, an in-depth example of how contextual material is used in each course is provided, along with brief examples of materials used in these courses. Student feedback for each approach is also included.