Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics
Filter by:
1 – 25 of 49 Classroom Resources
-
Observations, Mixtures, Density, Physical Properties, Mixture | Elementary School
Activity: Color-Works in a Jar Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
Students will be using three ingredients to create a liquid color-works mixture in a jar. This is a fun chemistry project to do with young elementary students around the 4th of July or New Year’s Eve to get the children excited about fireworks.
-
Mixtures, Mixture, Chemical Change, Physical Change, Observations, Density, Acid Base Reactions, Chemical Change | Elementary School
Lab: Analyzing a Lava Lamp Mark as Favorite (1 Favorite)
In this lab, students create a mixture of oil, water and food coloring, and then add an Alka-Seltzer tablet, to create a homemade lava lamp. Student will record their observations during each step of the process and answer follow-up questions about the chemical and physical changes that took place.
-
Reaction Rate, Chemical Change, Reaction Rate, Observations | Middle School, Elementary School, High School
Demonstration: Simple Kinetics Mark as Favorite (12 Favorites)
In this demonstration, students will see that different food dyes react with bleach at different rates.
-
Observations, Density, Physical Properties, Introduction | Elementary School
Activity: Sink or Float Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
In this activity, students investigate whether certain materials will sink or float in water. Students will also explore how the shape of an object can affect its volume and density.
-
Physical Properties, Observations, Interdisciplinary | Elementary School
Lab: Soil Permeability Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
In this lab, students will learn about the draining properties of different types of soil and how it affects the type of plants that can grow in those soils.
-
Density, Observations, Physical Properties | Elementary School
Lab: Under the Sea: A Density Aquarium! Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
In this lab, students will create a density aquarium. They will develop a written response comparing and contrasting the densities of the various objects within the aquarium. This lab is designed for students to work in groups after they have an understanding of density and other physical properties.
-
Chemical Change, Observations, Mixture, Acids & Bases, Chemical Change | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Demonstration: Inflating a Balloon with Chemistry Mark as Favorite (4 Favorites)
In this demonstration, the teacher will perform a reaction between acetic acid (vinegar) and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) in order to inflate a balloon and to introduce the concept of a chemical reaction to students. Students will observe the reaction, and identify indicators of chemical change as well as discuss the different types of matter that are involved.
-
Observations, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties | Elementary School
Activity: Junior Technologist of Floor Care Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
In this activity students will take the role of the Junior Technologist of Floor Care, whereby students have the opportunity to study the properties of a chemical used for finishing floor tile. They will examine the tiles appearance to discover which chemical provides the best sheen and durability.
-
Observations, Interdisciplinary | Elementary School
Lab: The pH of Soil Mark as Favorite (1 Favorite)
In this lab, students will determine and compare the pH of different types of soil from their school, homes, or neighborhoods. Students will then decide what types of plants can grow in acidic or alkaline soils.
-
Separating Mixtures, Observations | Elementary School
Lab: Settle that Soil Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
In this lab, students will learn about what properties constitute soil and how it is different than “dirt.” Students will also be able to distinguish the difference between sand, silt, and clay.
-
Density, Density, Chemical Change, Observations, Chemical Change, Combustion | Elementary School, Middle School
Demonstration: Investigating Gas Density Mark as Favorite (5 Favorites)
In this demonstration, students will observe a reaction between baking soda and vinegar in the presence of a burning candle. The initial environment has plenty of oxygen present in order to sustain the candle’s flame; however the reaction will produce carbon dioxide which will cause the lit candle to extinguish. Students will analyze the outcome and compare the presence of the gases in the container and make determinations about the densities of each.
-
Reaction Rate, Chemical Change, Observations, Chemical Change, Reaction Rate, Catalysts | Elementary School
Lab: To What DEGREE Does it Matter Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
In this lab the students will explore how factors such as temperature may influence chemical reactions. Students will use citric acid and sodium bicarbonate (Alka-Seltzer) and a catalyst (water) to induce a reaction at varying degrees. Observations will be made of the rate at which the reactions take place under these varying conditions. The students will make predictions of how the temperature of the water will affect the chemical reaction. They will use a stop watch to time the reaction between the Alka-Seltzer and the varying temperatures of water and graph their observations for analysis, they will compare data to deduce whether temperature has any influence during a chemical reaction.
-
Observations | Middle School, Elementary School, High School
Activity: Compare and Contrast Mark as Favorite (2 Favorites)
In this activity, students will use their observation skills to compare and contrast two similar chemistry classroom scenes in order to identify the differences between the two.
-
Physical Properties, Physical Change, Observations, Polymers | Elementary School, Middle School
Lab: Paper or Plastic? Mark as Favorite (3 Favorites)
In this lab students will research and compare the physical properties of various types of plastic bags. The recorded data will be analyzed by students, and they will use the results to design a plastic bag to meet a given set of criteria.
-
Matter, Physical Properties, Observations | Elementary School
Activity: Is Air Matter? Mark as Favorite (4 Favorites)
In this activity, students will conduct an investigation to discover whether or not air is a form of matter. Students will first gather data, and then make a claim. They will communicate their claim in writing, using their data to support their claim.
-
Physical Properties, Observations, Matter | Elementary School
Activity: Describing Physical Properties Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
In this activity, students will use their five senses to describe the physical properties of a variety of items. Students will also determine what state of matter the item is, and categorize it accordingly. Students will practice using vocabulary words as they record their observations in a data table.
-
Chemical Change, Chemical Change, Observations | Elementary School, Middle School
Lab: It's Alive Mark as Favorite (1 Favorite)
In this lab, students will practice making and recording observations, analyzing data, and identifying chemical change. They will transfer dirt, germs, and bacteria from their hands onto a piece of white bread and observe the changes that occur during the following days. Students will analyze the results, make comparisons between clean and dirty samples of bread and learn about the importance of hand-cleaning.
-
Observations, Density, Physical Properties | Elementary School
Demonstration: Will it Float? Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
In this demonstration, students will observe the relationship between the density of a solution and its impact on an object’s ability to float or sink. Uncooked eggs will be placed in a tap water sample and in a salt water solution so that students can make observations and compare the results in order to make a determination regarding the density value for each item.
-
Density, Observations, Interdisciplinary, Scientific Method | Middle School, Elementary School
Lab: Crush's Dilemma Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
In this lab, students explore the concept of density. They will examine the density of a plastic sandwich bag compared to water. Students will create their own experiment and investigate factors that affect floating and sinking.
-
Polarity, Mixtures, Intermolecular Forces, Intermolecular Forces, Mixture, Physical Properties, Observations | Middle School, Elementary School, High School
Lab: Salad Dressing Science: Emulsions Mark as Favorite (9 Favorites)
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.
-
Conservation of Mass, History, Observations, Measurements, SI Units | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: Antoine Lavoisier Video Mark as Favorite (9 Favorites)
This video tells the story of Antoine Lavoisier who many consider to be the father or modern chemistry. Lavoisier discovered oxygen and hydrogen and first proposed the Law of Conservation of Mass.
-
History, Physical Properties, Observations, Model of the Atom | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: Ancient Chemistry Video Mark as Favorite (29 Favorites)
This video traces the history of chemistry from the discovery of fire, through the various metal ages, and finally to the great philosophers.
-
Chemical Change, Observations, Chemical Change, Oxidation | Elementary School
Lab: Apple's Oxidation Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
In this lab students will learn about the chemical reaction, oxidation, using apple wedges. They will apply different substances to a number of apple wedges to determine if these applications have any impact on the oxidation process. Students will also use a control sample so that they compare their results with an apple wedge that has not had any substance added to it. Students will measure and record the time it takes to see the changes to the apple which indicate oxidation. 3-46
-
Chemical Change, Chemical Change, Observations, Acid Base Reactions, Chemical Change, Acid | Elementary School
Lesson Plan: The Chemistry of Eggs Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
In this lesson students will learn that vinegar can react with the Calcium in an egg shell to make it rubbery. First, the students will listen to the teacher read a book about eggs. The teacher will then put an egg in a jar with vinegar and let it set for two days. Students will make a prediction about what they think will happen to the egg, and then together they will investigate the final results.
-
Separating Mixtures, Physical Properties, Observations, Matter, Mixture, Introduction | Elementary School
Activity: Sandbox Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
In this activity the students will separate a mixture and classify objects by their physical properties.