Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics
126 – 150 of 187 Classroom Resources
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Chemical Change, Phase Changes, Combustion, Observations | Elementary School, Middle School
Demonstration: The Jumping Flame
In this demonstration, students will observe that the vapor of an extinguished candle flame is ignitable.
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Molecular Structure, Interdisciplinary, Scientific Method | Middle School
Lesson Plan: The Effect of Different Foods on Mealworms
In this lesson, students will look at the chemistry of the molecules of carbohydrates, fats, and lipids, and they will use this information to determine a diet for their mealworm and will collect information about the mealworm to test a hypothesis.
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Photosynthesis, Conservation of Mass, Balancing Equations, Chemical Change, Reversible Reactions, Molecular Formula, Interdisciplinary, Chemical Change, Conservation of Mass | Middle School
Lesson Plan: The Building Blocks of Photosynthesis
In this lesson, students will use colored blocks to represent the elements in photosynthesis and illustrate how they are broken down and reassembled to create glucose.
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Observations, Separating Mixtures, Mixtures, Interdisciplinary, Physical Properties, Scientific Method | High School, Middle School
Activity: How Do We Clean Up An Oil Spill
In this activity, students simulate an oil spill and test different materials’ ability to “clean” the oil spill.
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Solute & Solvent, Chemical Change, Solubility, Chemical Bond | Middle School
Lab: A Sticky Situation
In this lab, students will try to separate plastic spoons that have been attached together with different adhesive materials using a variety of solvents.
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Temperature, History, Interdisciplinary, Chemical Change, Temperature, Heat | Middle School, High School
Lab: Greenhouse Gas Simulation
In this lab, students will create two simulations of the Earth’s atmosphere. They will compare a control model with a one that has an increased presence of carbon dioxide gas in order to analyze how this effects temperature. They will also complete research in order to learn more about the makeup of the Earth’s atmosphere.
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Freezing Point, Melting Point, Phase Changes, Acids & Bases, Physical Change | Middle School
Lesson Plan: Stearic Acid
In this lesson, students investigate how stearic acid undergoes a phase change from solid to liquid and back from liquid to solid. Temperature readings will be collected at one-minute intervals once the acid melts, the heat escapes, and the acid cools. Students are introduced to the idea that energy loss does not always result in a continuous temperature drop.
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Mixtures, Separating Mixtures, Solubility, Physical Change, Phase Changes | Middle School
Lab: A Solution to Your Mix-up
In this lab, students will perform a step by step process of mixing and separating substances based on their states and solubility in order to solve a problem.
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Reaction Rate, Chemical Change, Reaction Rate, Observations | Middle School, Elementary School, High School
Demonstration: Simple Kinetics
In this demonstration, students will see that different food dyes react with bleach at different rates.
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Separating Mixtures, Physical Change | High School, Middle School
Lab: Separation of a Mixture
In this lab, students devise their own method to separate a mixture of sand, salt, poppy seeds, and iron filings.
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Polarity, Physical Change, Intermolecular Forces, Intermolecular Forces, Physical Change, Matter | Middle School
Lesson Plan: Sandy Beaches—A Foray into ‘Magic’ Sand
In this lesson, students will investigate the properties of magic sand and learn about the concept of hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecules. It also introduced students to the field of nanotechnology.
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Polarity, Mixtures, Intermolecular Forces, Intermolecular Forces, Mixture, Physical Properties, Observations | Middle School, Elementary School, High School
Lab: Salad Dressing Science: Emulsions
In this lab, students mix polar and nonpolar substances and then add various emulsifiers to encourage the mixing of the two substances. They use ingredients in salad dressing to relate science to real life scenarios.
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Chemical Change, Density, Chemical Change, Density | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Demonstration: Fire Extinguisher
In this demonstration, students will observe a chemical reaction, and see how the product can be used to extinguish a fire.
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Lab Safety | High School, Middle School
Demonstration: Lab Safety
In this demonstration, students discuss laboratory safety and observe corn starch being ignited.
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Review, Density | High School, Middle School
Activity: Round Robin
In this activity, students solve problems on a series of sheets shared in a group.The activity can be extended beyond the topics of temperature and density. This lesson accompanies an article in Chemistry Solutions.
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Density, Density | High School, Middle School
Demonstration: Qualitative Look at Gas Density
In this demo, students witness three types of gases and observe their relative densities to air.
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Periodic Table, History | High School, Middle School
Activity: Ptable.com Investigations
In this activity, students will use the online periodic table found at www.ptable.com to investigate a number of chemistry concepts. Students will use this online resource to explore information about the elements, including historical data, physical properties, periodic trends and more.
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Introduction, Observations, Interdisciplinary, Scientific Method | Middle School, High School
Activity: Engineering Project
In this activity, students work together in a small team in order to solve a problem and achieve a common goal. Students will need to work collaboratively in order to be successful. They will be required to communicate their ideas both verbally and in written form, assign duties, design and carry out a procedure in this activity. They will also be challenged with problem solving when/if their original plan fails.
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Chemical Change, Conservation of Matter, Identifying an Unknown, Culminating Project, Elements | Middle School
Lab: Priestley Labs
In this lab, students will identify an unknown gas based on experimental evidence.
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Exothermic & Endothermic, Physical Change, Temperature, Freezing Point, Boiling Point | High School, Middle School
Demonstration: Energy
In this demonstration, students will observe the exothermic and endothermic properties of state changes of substances with different freezing and boiling points.
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Precipitate, Reactions & Stoichiometry, Solubility Rules, Balancing Equations, Chemical Change, Chemical Change | High School, Middle School
Lab: Predicting Precipitates
In this lab, students use solubility rules to predict which chemical reactions will produce precipitates.
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Periodic Table, Introduction, Elements | High School, Middle School
Activity: Element Skit
In this activity, students will become familiar with the periodic table by creating a skit to explain an element’s symbol, atomic number, and atomic mass.
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Elements, Periodic Table, Interdisciplinary, History, Atoms, Model of the Atom | Middle School, High School
Project: Element Baby Book
In this activity, students will “adopt” an element and create a baby book about their “new baby” while they research and learn about the element.
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Electricity, Atoms, Electrons, Electrons, Culminating Project, Interdisciplinary | Elementary School, Middle School
Activity: Electrical Circuit Quiz Box
In this activity, students will learn that the flow of electrons within a closed circuit make our lives easier. Students will construct a circuit quiz box that lights up when the correct question and answer are chosen.
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Chemical Change, Chemical Change, Phase Changes, Sublimation, Boiling Point, Pressure, Physical Change | Middle School
Lesson Plan: Dry Ice
In this lesson, students will investigate how dry ice undergoes a phase change from solid to gas, skipping the liquid phase under normal temperature and pressure.