Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics
76 – 100 of 187 Classroom Resources
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Density, Measurements | Elementary School, Middle School
Lab: Weight Just a Minute!
In this lab, students will learn how volume and mass affect density as they make comparisons and calculations.
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Chemical Change, Conservation of Mass, Chemical Change, Physical Change | Middle School, High School
Lab: Chemistry in a Bag
In this lab, students will observe and identify chemical and physical changes contained inside a plastic bag. Students will also use this lab to understand the Law of Conservation of Mass.
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Indicators, Identifying an Unknown | Middle School, High School
Lab: Indicators of Acids and Bases
In this lab, students will use various indicators to identify unknown (clear) solutions as acidic, basic, or neutral.
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Physical Properties, Density, Separating Mixtures, Matter, Culminating Project, Interdisciplinary, Phase Changes | Elementary School, Middle School
Activity: The Castaway!
In this activity, students use their knowledge of the properties of matter to create and/or design items needed for survival on a deserted island.
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Physical Properties, Density, Chemical Properties, Matter, Interdisciplinary | Middle School, Elementary School
Activity: Astronaut on a Mission
In this activity students will take on the role as a NASA employee on a mission to discover what resources humans need in order to survive on a planet outside of our solar system. Students will come up with a plan including a list of materials and resources needed to sustain life on another planet. They will need to compare each planet and determine which is most ready to support life.
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Concentration, Mixtures, Interdisciplinary, Scientific Method, Measurements | Middle School, High School
Lab: Effect of Salt Concentration on Plants
In this lab, students will observe how salt concentration can affect the structure of a potato tuber.
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Chemical Change, Physical Change, Chemical Change, Scientific Method, Melting Point, Phase Changes | Middle School
Lab: S'more Change Please
In this lab, students will be able to demonstrate the difference between a physical and chemical change by making ooey, gooey, yet yummy S’mores!
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Density, Physical Properties, Matter, Observations | Elementary School, Middle School
Lab: Comparing Density of Liquids & Irregular Solids
In this lab, students will measure mass and volume, calculate density, and compare the density of given liquids and solids, inferring what causes objects to sink or float in a given liquid. 3-48
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Periodic Table, Subatomic Particles, History, Introduction, Elements, Atoms, Valence Electrons, Electrons | Middle School
Project: Elemental Art: A Visual Periodic Table
In this activity students will research an assigned element of the Periodic Table and then create a poster that visually explains and expresses the element. The final posters can be arranged into a classroom Periodic Table.
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Molecular Structure , Molecular Structure, Molecular Formula, Naming Compounds, Chemical Bond, Interdisciplinary, Introduction | Middle School, High School
Activity: Modeling Carbohydrates
In this activity, students will identify that organic compounds contain carbon and other elements such as hydrogen and oxygen. They will investigate the structure of different organic and inorganic compounds and model several molecules, including a carbohydrate molecule. They will use their models to help understand how larger molecules are broken down into smaller molecules.
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Chemical Change, Physical Change, Chemical Change | Middle School, High School
Lab: Chemical and Physical Changes
In this lab, students will observe and analyze a number of examples in order to determine if a chemical or physical change occurred.
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Significant Figures, Measurements, Accuracy, Density | Middle School, High School
Lab: Significant Figures and Lab Data
In this lesson, students will use laboratory equipment of different precision to collect data for several different metals, and then use the data to calculate the density of each. They will then compare their calculated densities to accepted values and determine the combination of equipment that leads to the most accurate calculation of density.
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Atomic Spectra, Emission Spectrum, Emission Spectrum, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Interdisciplinary, Identifying an Unknown | Middle School, High School
Lab: Spectral Detective
In this lab, students will use a spectroscope to view the atomic spectra of various unknown elements. Using their collected data in combination with known atomic spectra, they will identify the chemical elements.
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Atomic Theory, Electrons, Model of the Atom, Subatomic Particles, History | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: Niels Bohr Video
This video tells the story of Niels Bohr, a great scientist who redefined how we think about atoms and the electron. Bohr’s model of the atom helped to advance understanding of subatomic particles, and holds an important place in the history and development of the atomic theory.
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Model of the Atom, Subatomic Particles, Atomic Mass, Valence Electrons, Atoms, Periodic Table, Elements | Middle School, High School
Activity: Mystery Elements
The students will work in cooperative groups to construct Bohr models of "mystery" elements and record missing information about each element. Students will also create a new "mystery" element card for a classmate to analyze and determine its identity.
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Periodic Table, History | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: Aluminum Video
In this video, Sam Kean tells stories about aluminum.
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Model of the Atom, Periodic Table | High School, Middle School
Lab: Sweet Model of the Atom
In this lesson, students will use different candies to represent electrons, protons, and neutrons to gain a better understanding of atoms, ions, and isotopes.
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Temperature, History, Accuracy, Physical Properties | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: The Temperature Guys Video
This video tells the story of how temperature as we currently know it evolved. The first thermometers invented in the early 1600s are very different than ones we use today!
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Periodic Table, History, Physical Properties | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: Silicon Video
In this video, Sam Kean tells stories about silicon.
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Gas Laws, Pressure, Volume, History | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: Robert Boyle Video
This video tells the story of Robert Boyle, a great chemist and discoverer of Boyle's Law, which describes the relationship between pressure and volume of a gas.
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Atomic Radius, Ionic Radius, Electrons, Model of the Atom, Subatomic Particles, Periodic Table | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Animation: Atomic & Ionic Radii Animation
In this animation, students will have an opportunity to visualize atomic and ionic radii. They will look at the different sizes of atoms in the third period and the atoms in the sixth group. They will also look at an atom and its cation as well as an atom and its anion. **This video has no audio**
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Molecular Structure, Molecular Geometry, History, Periodic Table, Molecular Structure | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: Phosphorous Video
In this video, Sam Kean tells the story of how phosphorus was at the center of the race to discover the structure of DNA.
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Periodic Table, History | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: Mercury Video
In this video, Sam Kean tells stories about Mercury.
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Radioactive Isotopes, Radiation, Half Lives, History | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: Marie Curie Video
This video tells the story about Marie Curie, including her Nobel Prizes, radiation experiments, and discovery of new elements. Irene Curie is also mentioned.
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Periodic Table, History | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: Manganese Video
In this video, Sam Kean tells stories about manganese.