ACS National Historic Chemical Landmarks Program
29 Classroom Resources
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Dimensional Analysis, History, Measurements, Physical Properties, Separating Mixtures | High School
Lesson Plan: Bettye Washington Greene Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about the significant chemistry contributions of Dr. Bettye Washington Greene, who was one of very few African American women to be awarded a doctorate in the chemical sciences in the 1960’s. Students will read an article and engaging in related activities. The activities help promote literacy in the science classroom. Parts of this lesson could be used as plans for a substitute teacher.
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Electromagnetic Spectrum, History, Radiation | High School
Lesson Plan: NMR and MRI: Applications in Chemistry and Medicine Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about NMR and MRI imaging by reading an article and engaging in related activities. The activities help promote literacy in the science classroom. Parts of this lesson could be used as plans for a substitute teacher.
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Atomic Structure, Chemistry Basics, History, Ions, Mixtures, Periodic Table, Physical Properties | High School
Lesson Plan: George Eastman, Kodak, and The Birth of Consumer Photography Mark as Favorite (4 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about George Eastman’s contributions to modern day photography, as well as the history and chemistry of photosensitive chemicals through reading an article and engaging in related activities. The activities help promote literacy in the science classroom. This lesson could be easily used as plans for a substitute teacher, as most of the activities are self-guided.
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Chemical Change, History, Identifying an Unknown, Molecular Structure | High School
Lesson Plan: Development of Diagnostic Test Strips Mark as Favorite (4 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about diagnostic test strips by reading an article and engaging in related activities. The activities help promote literacy in the science classroom. Parts of this lesson could be used as plans for a substitute teacher.
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Chemical Change, Electron Transfer, Half Reactions, Predicting Products, Redox Reaction | High School
Lesson Plan: Polaroid Photography Mark as Favorite (4 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about redox reactions in film photography by reading an article and engaging in related activities. The activities help promote literacy in the science classroom. Parts of this lesson could be used as plans for a substitute teacher.
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Anode, Cathode, Galvanic Cells, History, Oxidation, Redox Reaction, Reduction | High School
Lesson Plan: Columbia Dry Cell Battery Mark as Favorite (1 Favorite)
In this lesson, students will learn about electrochemistry and electric cells (batteries) by reading an article and engaging in related activities. The activities help promote literacy in the science classroom. Parts of this lesson could be used as plans for a substitute teacher.
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Functional Groups, Identifying an Unknown, Molecular Structure , Separating Mixtures | High School
Lesson Plan: Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Mark as Favorite (5 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about the development of Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and how it used today. There are a series of activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading. Through these activities students will learn how to interpret a skeletal structure, as well as the names and structures of several organic functional groups. Additionally, they will examine and evaluate a mass spectrum. This lesson could be easily used as plans for a substitute teacher, as most of the activities are self-guided.
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Bohr Model, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Electrons | High School
Lesson Plan: DayGlo Fluorescent Pigments Mark as Favorite (9 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about the discovery of the DayGlo fluorescent colors, as well as related topics such as fluorescence, light, color, and energy through reading an article and engaging in related activities. The activities help promote literacy in the science classroom. Parts of this lesson could be used as plans for a substitute teacher.
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History, Interdisciplinary | High School
Lesson Plan: Marie Maynard Daly Mark as Favorite (10 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about the significant contributions to chemistry by Dr. Marie Maynard Daly, the first Black woman to earn a doctorate in chemistry in the U.S. Students will read an article and engage in related activities that help to promote literacy in the science classroom. Parts of this lesson could be used as plans for a substitute teacher. This lesson provides teachers with strategies to address diversity, equity, and inclusion in the chemistry curriculum.
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Functional Groups, History, Identifying an Unknown, Molecular Structure , Observations | High School
Lesson Plan: Introduction to Flavor Chemistry Mark as Favorite (13 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will read an article about flavor chemistry to learn about the science of tasting. There are a series of activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading and help students experience what they’ve read about. One part, the Job Interview, could be used as plans for a substitute teacher since the activity is self-guided.
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History, Interdisciplinary, Molecular Structure , Monomer, Pharmaceuticals, Polymers | High School
Lesson Plan: Carbohydrate Metabolism Mark as Favorite (2 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about how the metabolism of carbohydrates in the body were studied. There are a series of activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading. This lesson could be easily used as plans for a substitute teacher, as most of the activities are self-guided.
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Molecular Structure , Pharmaceuticals | High School
Lesson Plan: Percy Julian Overcame Racism to Flourish as a Chemist Mark as Favorite (4 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about synthesizing new chemicals through reading about Percy Julien’s experience. There are a series of activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading. This lesson could be easily used as plans for a substitute teacher, as most of the activities are self-guided.
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Molecular Structure , Pharmaceuticals | High School
Lesson Plan: The Vitamin B Complex Mark as Favorite (5 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about the discovery of vitamins, specifically the B vitamins, via a reading. Organic chemistry and solubility are all touched on in this lesson. There are a series of activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading. This lesson could be easily used as plans for a substitute teacher, as most of the activities are self-guided.
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Dimensional Analysis, Elements, History, Interdisciplinary, Measurements, Molecular Structure , Scientific Notation, SI Units | High School
Lesson Plan: The Discovery of Fullerenes Mark as Favorite (5 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about a class of compounds called fullerenes through a reading about their discovery. Metric conversions, organic chemistry, and allotropes are all touched on in this lesson. There are a series of activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading. This lesson could be easily used as plans for a substitute teacher, as most of the activities are self-guided.
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History, Interdisciplinary, Intermolecular Forces, Intramolecular Forces, Polymers | High School
Lesson Plan: Scotch Transparent Tape Mark as Favorite (20 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about how sticky tape was developed through reading an article. There are a series of activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading. This lesson could be easily used as plans for a substitute teacher, as most of the activities are self-guided.
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Alloys, Condensation, History, Interdisciplinary, Monomer, Monomer, Polymers, Polymers | High School
Lesson Plan: Synthetic Materials Through History Mark as Favorite (5 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about the history of synthesized materials through reading an article. There are a series of activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading. This lesson could be easily used as plans for a substitute teacher, as most of the activities are self-guided.
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Electromagnetic Spectrum, History, Interdisciplinary | High School
Lesson Plan: Isolation of Phytochrome Mark as Favorite (2 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about plant cycles of development in relation to the electromagnetic spectrum through reading an article. There are a series of activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading. This lesson could be easily used as plans for a substitute teacher, as most of the activities are self-guided.
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Measurements, Observations, Physical Properties, SI Units | High School
Lesson Plan: Setting the Standards of Excellence Mark as Favorite (11 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about standards through a reading about the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which is the U.S. body that defines standards. There are a series of activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading. This lesson could be easily used as plans for a substitute teacher, as most of the activities are self-guided.
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Chemical Properties, Elements, History, Identifying an Unknown, Ionic Bonding, Naming Compounds, Physical Properties | High School
Lesson Plan: Joseph Priestley, Discoverer of Oxygen Mark as Favorite (12 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will read an article to learn about the discovery and identification of gases, specifically oxygen by Joseph Priestley. There are a series of activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading. This lesson could be easily used as plans for a substitute teacher, as most of the activities are self-guided.
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Concentration, History, Interdisciplinary, Solubility | High School
Lesson Plan: Legacy of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring Mark as Favorite (15 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will read an article to learn about the impact Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring has had. Arguably, the U.S. EPA was formed as a result, and a Nobel Prize-worthy discovery was banned after the book was published. There are a series of activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading. This lesson could be easily used as plans for a substitute teacher since most of the activities are self-guided.
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Chemical Properties, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Functional Groups, Heat, History, Interdisciplinary, Molecular Structure , Physical Properties, Radiation | High School
Lesson Plan: Mars Exploration with Infrared Spectrometers Mark as Favorite (11 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about how space scientists used infrared spectrometers to explore Mars through an article reading. Space exploration involves a lot of chemistry, which many students are surprised to learn. There are a series of activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading. This lesson could be easily used as plans for a substitute teacher, as most of the activities are self-guided.
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History, Molecular Structure , Pharmaceuticals | High School
Lesson Plan: Discovery of Ivermectin: Preventing Blindness and Heartworm Mark as Favorite (4 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about the drug ivermectin by reading about the chemistry behind its discovery and applications. There are a series of activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading. This lesson could be easily used as plans for a substitute teacher since most of the activities are self-guided.
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Covalent Bonding, History, Molecular Structure | High School
Lesson Plan: Steroid Medicines: A Profile of Chemical Innovation Mark as Favorite (17 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about developing medicine through the lens of hydrocortisone while reading an article. There are a series of activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading. This lesson could be easily used as plans for a substitute teacher, as most of the activities are self-guided.
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Half Lives, History, Radioactive Isotopes | High School
Lesson Plan: Radiocarbon Dating and Willard Libby Mark as Favorite (9 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about the development and application of radiocarbon dating through an article reading. There are a series of activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading. This lesson could be easily used as plans for a substitute teacher, as most of the activities are self-guided.
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Boiling Point, Heat, History | High School
Lesson Plan: Norbert Rillieux, Thermodynamics and Chemical Engineering Mark as Favorite (13 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about thermodynamics through a historical story of a budding Black chemical engineer named Norbert Rillieux. He is credited with creating the process for isolating sugar crystals from sugarcane because of his keen understanding of thermodynamics. There are a series of activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading. This lesson could be easily used as plans for a substitute teacher, as most of the activities are self-guided. Rillieux’s story is interesting from a diversity standpoint. He was a free biracial scientist living in the South during pre-Civil War times. This story provides an opportunity to discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion in the chemistry classroom.
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Chemical Bond, Chemical Properties, Interdisciplinary, Molecular Structure, Physical Properties, Radiation | High School
Lesson Plan: Chlorofluorocarbons and Ozone Depletion Mark as Favorite (13 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about the history of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and the harm they cause the ozone layer through an article reading. There are a series of activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading. This lesson could be easily used as plans for a substitute teacher, as most of the activities are self-guided.
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Covalent Bonding, Functional Groups, History, Ionic Bonding, Molecular Structure, Molecular Structure , Naming Compounds, Polyatomic Ions | High School
Lesson Plan: The Development of Baking Powder Mark as Favorite (17 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about the chemistry behind baking powder through reading about its history and development over time. There are a series of activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading. This lesson could be easily used as plans for a substitute teacher, as most of the activities are self-guided.
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Atomic Mass, Atomic Theory, Elements, History, Isotopes, Periodic Table, Radioactive Isotopes, Subatomic Particles | High School
Lesson Plan: The Periodic Table and Transuranium Elements Mark as Favorite (29 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about the transuranium elements through reading about some of their discoveries. There are a series of activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading. This lesson could be easily used as plans for a substitute teacher, as most of the activities are self-guided.
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Heat, Isotopes, Photosynthesis, Temperature, Temperature | High School
Lesson Plan: Climate Change and the Keeling Curve Mark as Favorite (17 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about climate change through reading about research behind carbon dioxide emissions, which led to the development of the Keeling Curve. Isotopic tracing as well as photosynthesis are briefly touched on. There are a series of activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading. This lesson could be easily used as plans for a substitute teacher, as most of the activities are self-guided.