Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics
1 – 25 of 27 Classroom Resources
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Density, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Physical Change, Chemical Change, Graphing, Alloys | Middle School, High School
Lesson Plan: The Captivating Chemistry of Coins
In this lesson, students will develop a better understanding of physical and chemical properties of matter by comparing the composition of different pennies. This is done by determining the density of different pennies which will be compared to the density of different metals.
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Physical Change, Chemical Change, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Activity: A Physical vs. Chemical Challenge
In this activity, students will first complete a card sort to best categorize examples of change as physical or chemical change. Then they will compete in teams to identify whether given situations represent a physical change or a chemical change, or a physical or a chemical property.
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Measurements, Dimensional Analysis, Chemical Properties, Physical Properties, Chemical Change, Physical Change, Mixture, Matter, Observations | Middle School, High School
Activity: Cupcake Conversions, Bench to Bakery
This activity will help to reinforce the importance of scientific measurement and apply it to the introduction of chemical reactions. Using an example of baking a single batch of cupcakes, students will plan for a larger production scale in a commercial bakery. This will help to introduce the idea of producing a reaction at the lab bench and converting it to mass production. In addition this activity investigates how chemistry is used in everyday life and challenges students to consider potentials errors that may occur when completing chemical reactions in the kitchen.
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Review, Matter, Mixture, Density, Physical Change, Chemical Change, Periodic Table, Elements | Elementary School, Middle School
Activity: Chemistry Basics: Crossword Puzzle
In this activity, students will complete a crossword puzzle by solving each clue that is related to a basic, yet fundamental chemistry topic.
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Chemical Change, Chemical Change, Observations | Elementary School, Middle School
Lab: It's Alive
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.
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Mixture, Polymers, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Physical Change, Chemical Change, Observations, Scientific Method | Middle School
Lesson Plan: Exploring the Chemistry of Oil and Acrylic Paints
In this lesson students learn about the chemistry of oil and acrylic paints. They make their own paint, and complete an experiment to collect qualitative and quantitative data through a series of tests. Students will also apply the concepts of physical and chemical change to the results of this controlled experiment.
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Chemical Change, Chemical Change, Physical Change, Physical Properties | Middle School
Lab: Little Miss Muffet Investigation
In this lab, students will work in cooperative groups to conduct a chemical reaction by mixing vinegar with milk. This reaction will cause the curds to precipitate and separate from the liquid whey. The lesson can be extended by experimenting with different types of milk or by using different acids.
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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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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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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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Chemical Change, Strong vs Weak, Salts, Mixture, Acid & Base Theories, Conductivity, Ions | Middle School
Lesson Plan: Why Drink Gatorade?
In this lesson, students will test different flavors of Gatorade and other liquids to investigate acids and bases. This will take several days unless students already know about acids and bases.
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Polarity, Polymers, Molecular Structure, Monomer, Intermolecular Forces, Scientific Method, Chemical Change, Intermolecular Forces | Middle School
Lesson Plan: Watch the Baby! Superabsorbent Polymer
In this lesson, students will learn about how polymers, specifically superabsorbent polymers, work. Through lab activities, students will investigate polymer properties.
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Physical Change, Chemical Change, Identifying an Unknown, Acid Base Reactions | Middle School
Lab: Is It a Hoax
In this lab, students will perform tests on the physical and chemical properties of different substances to determine the identity of the unknown.
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Density, Density, Chemical Change, Observations, Chemical Change, Combustion | Elementary School, Middle School
Demonstration: Investigating Gas Density
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.
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History, Chemical Change | High School, Middle School
Activity: Tie Dye
In this activity, students make tie-dye shirts and complete a worksheet about a reading from ChemMatters about how dyes work. It gives students the opportunity to apply chemistry to everyday life.
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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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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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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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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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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.
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Chemical Change, Chemical Change | High School, Middle School
Lab: Corrosion in Motion
In this lab, students will expose metal samples to various solutions and observe the amount of corrosion of a period of time.
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Separating Mixtures, Density, Physical Change, Chemical Change, Mixtures, Intermolecular Forces, Intermolecular Forces | Middle School
Lab: Clean it Up!
In this lab, students will consider and utilize various separation techniques to purify and reclaim used motor oil.
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Chemical Change, Observations, Chemical Change, Reaction Rate, Interdisciplinary, Physical Change, Reaction Rate | Middle School
Lab: Chemical Weathering in Geology
In this lab, students will explore the differences between erosion, weathering and chemical weathering. They will complete a lab experiment that simulates chemical weathering on 4 different types of rocks. They will also learn how to use the Mohs Hardness Test to analyze the results.
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Balancing Equations, Chemical Change, Observations | High School, Middle School
Lab: Chemical Reactions & Equations
In this lesson, students will observe a series of reactions, make observations, and then write balanced chemical equations to chemically describe what they observed.