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Classroom Resources: Energy & Thermodynamics

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26 – 50 of 109 Classroom Resources

  • Kinetic Molecular Theory, Temperature, Heat, Temperature | Middle School, High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lab: Mega Marshmallows

    In this lab, students will investigate the Kinetic Molecular Theory and particle motion while experimenting with a marshmallow. Students will observe how an increase in kinetic energy will cause particles to increase in motion. This concept will be extended into a discussion about additional real world thermal expansion examples.

  • Electromagnetic Spectrum, Atomic Spectra, Electrons | High School

    Demonstration: Flame Test (Rainbow Demo)

    In this demonstration, students will observe the variety of colors produced when different metals or metallic salts are heated in a flame.

  • Exothermic & Endothermic, Law of Conservation of Energy, Temperature, Bond Energy | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Project: Thermochemistry Infographic

    In this project, students will apply the principles of thermochemistry and thermodynamics to explain real world phenomena by creating an infographic using web based tools.

  • Temperature, Heat, Temperature | Elementary School, Middle School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Demonstration: An Uplifting Experience

    In this demonstration, students will investigate what happens to air when it is heated.

  • Molecular Structure, Molecular Geometry, Polymers, Electronegativity, Heat, Temperature, Electricity | High School, Middle School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Video: The Future of Paint Video

    This video explores the fascinating and innovative scientific advancements of paint. Students will learn how the molecular components in paint are helping to evolve in the world around them. Futuristic paint is capable of replacing light switches, conducting electricity, and regulating temperature amongst other things!

  • Electromagnetic Spectrum, Identifying an Unknown | Middle School, High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Video: Color Matching Paint Video

    This video explains how technology, specifically focusing on spectrophotometry, can be used for paint matching. Students will learn how the spectrophotometer interacts with the spectrum of visible light in order to match or reproduce specific paint colors.

  • Hess's Law, Calorimetry, Heat | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lesson Plan: Hess’s Law Application

    In this lesson students will determine the ΔHrxn of an unknown reaction using a calorimeter and Hess’s Law.

  • Catalysts, Order of Reaction , Activation Energy, Lewis Structures, Resonance, Molecular Geometry, Activation Energy, Energy Diagrams | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lesson Plan: The Downside to Catalysts - An Exploration of CFC's on the Ozone Layer

    In this lesson students will make observations of a colorful homogenous catalyst and intermediate in a reaction demonstration that will spark their interests. They will then work in teams to analyze graphs and data sets in order to make a real-world connection to AP topics in kinetics such as catalysts, intermediates and reaction mechanisms by exploring how CFCs work to break down the ozone layer. Students will also investigate and discuss this environmental issue.

  • Electromagnetic Spectrum, Emission Spectrum | Middle School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lesson Plan: Understanding Light & Color

    In this lesson students use spectroscopes to analyze the colors of sunlight reflected off a white surface, and determine various colors of light emitted by a multicolor LED bulb at different color settings. They predict what color an object will appear when observed under a certain color of light, and test their predictions with the LED bulb. Students explore how a color wheel can provide a useful model for determining the colors of light an object may absorb or reflect. Finally, students will investigate the color yellow. Many objects that appear yellow are not reflecting yellow light, but reflecting green and red. Students use their spectroscopes to search for objects that truly reflect yellow light.

  • Concentration, Beer's Law, Electromagnetic Spectrum | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lesson Plan: Using Color to Identify an Unknown

    In this lesson students will utilize spectrophotometry to identify the wavelength of maximum absorbance for a food dye. They will also generate a Beer's Law Standard Curve, and utilize their skills to identify the different dyes and their concentrations in an unknown mixture. The lesson culminates with an extension to utilizing a similar method in color matching paint.

  • Entropy, Gibb's Free Energy , Enthalpy | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lesson Plan: Enthalpy and Entropy as Driving Forces

    In this activity students observe various chemical and physical processes to qualitatively predict and explain the signs of ∆S and ∆H. Based on their observations, they will predict the sign of ∆G and will determine the driving force of the process. Students will then calculate ∆S, ∆H and ∆G. This lesson focuses on thermochemical predictions, calculations and explanations.

  • Electricity, Renewable Energy, Photosynthesis, Electron Transfer, Redox Reaction, Oxidation, Reduction | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lesson Plan: Color Solar Power!

    In this lesson students will make a dye-sensitized solar cell (also known as DSC or Gratzel cell) using extracts from blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, red cabbage, strawberries, beetroot, spinach and dried hibiscus petals. Students will measure the voltage and the current of various light sources using the created solar cells and then compare the effectiveness of each.

  • Electromagnetic Spectrum, Emission Spectrum, Emission Spectrum, Electrons | Middle School, High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lesson Plan: Let it Glow

    In this lesson students will investigate the fluorescence of a variety of everyday items as well as prepared samples under a black light. Students will examine the concepts of absorption and subsequent emission of photons, as well as wavelength, frequency, and energy of electromagnetic radiation. As extension activities, students will learn about phosphorescence and research real-life applications of photoluminescence.

  • Electromagnetic Spectrum, Redox Reaction, Molecular Structure, Law of Conservation of Energy, Half Reactions, Oxidation Number, Oxidation, Reduction, Intermolecular Forces | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lesson Plan: Fading Away

    In this lesson students will explore photodegradation of color. First, students will view how fading of paint has affected Van Gogh’s great works of art and the efforts that are being taken to conserve these works. While exploring, students will actively engage in research to relate the fading process to redox reactions, X-Ray diffraction, solute-solvent interactions, and light/energy calculations. Students will then act as an Engineering Task Force and brainstorm to identify how photodegradation affects modern day objects and plan how to address their fading in an effort to market to the airliner Jetstar

  • Mixtures, Solute & Solvent, Intermolecular Forces, Intermolecular Forces, Molecular Formula, Molecular Structure, Polymers, Electromagnetic Spectrum | Middle School, High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Video: What is Paint? Video

    This video investigates the composition of paint, while analyzing the fundamental chemistry principles of its main components. Students will learn about the differences between three common paint types, water colors, oil-based and acrylic paint as well as the chemistry of each.

  • Electromagnetic Spectrum, Molecular Structure, Mixtures | Middle School, High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Video: What are Pigments? Video

    This video discusses the chemistry of pigment molecules and how they are used to give paints their specific color. Students will learn about the importance of a pigment’s molecular structure, how they are physically suspended to create a paint color, as well as how they interact with light.

  • Reaction Rate, Activation Energy, Catalysts, Combustion, Reaction Rate | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Demonstration: Rates of Reactions

    In this series of demonstrations, students will be introduced to factors that affect the rates of chemical reactions. They will observe and record their observations, while also describing the rate-influencing factor for each demonstration as well as evidence supporting whether or not the reaction rate was increased or decreased by the factor.

  • Chemical Change, Exothermic & Endothermic | Elementary School, Middle School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Demonstration: Giant Toothpaste

    In this demonstration, students will identify factors that indicate a chemical change has occurred while observing the production of giant toothpaste. This reaction uses simpler materials than those that are often used in the typical high school version of the Elephant’s toothpaste demonstration.

  • Renewable Energy, Electricity, Galvanic Cells, Cathode, Anode | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Video: Hybrid and Electric Cars Video

    This video explores the chemistry in the batteries that power hybrid and electric cars.

  • Conservation of Matter, Matter, Interdisciplinary, Renewable Energy | Elementary School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lab: Reuse, Reduce and Recycle!

    In this lab students will explore ways to conserve natural resources. They will then have the opportunity to create their own recycled paper that can be used in the classroom.

  • Phase Changes, Photosynthesis, Renewable Energy | Elementary School, Middle School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lab: Mini Terrarium

    In this lab, students will learn that even the smallest spaces can have their own climate. They will create a miniature sized terrarium and will observe how sunlight enters in order to warm the air, and in turn heat the soil and seeds. Condensation will build up in the container and the students can observe the water cycle in action, as well as the growth of the seeds over time.

  • Heat, Temperature, Temperature | Elementary School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Demonstration: Global Warming in a Jar

    In this demonstration students will learn about the cause and effects of global warming. Students will research about global warming, while also comparing it to a demonstration. This will help students to better understand the effects that temperature change can have on the planet.

  • Chemical Change, Exothermic & Endothermic | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lab: Little Miss Muffet

    In this lab, students make homemade glue from milk and compare it to commercial glue.

  • Heat | Middle School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Demonstration: Hot Popcorn

    In this demonstration, the teacher will pop popcorn using three different methods (a hot plate, a microwave, and an air popper) so that the students can experience and investigate three types of heat energy transfer: convection, conduction, and radiation.

  • Exothermic & Endothermic, Heat, Temperature, Classification of Reactions | Middle School, High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lab: Determining Endothermic and Exothermic Reaction

    In this lab, students will analyze evidence to determine if a chemical reaction releases energy and can be classified as an exothermic reaction or if it absorbs energy and can be classified as an endothermic reaction.

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