Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics


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1 – 25 of 641 Classroom Resources

  • Review | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Activity: Chemistry Emoji Pictionary

    In this activity, students will try to determine the correct chemistry related term, phrase, or item based on a provided set of emojis.

  • Redox Reaction, Oxidation, Reduction, Half Reactions, Cathode, Anode, Electron Transfer, Electrolysis, Electrolytic Cells, Error Analysis, Error Analysis, Accuracy, Chemical Change, Accuracy, Dimensional Analysis, Mole Concept, Significant Figures | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lesson Plan: Recycling Copper from E-Waste

    In this lesson, students will consider the need for innovative solutions to e-waste both from an environmental perspective as well as for the economic benefit to reclaiming raw materials from used electronic devices. They will then take on the role of an electroplate technician who is tasked with evaluating the effectiveness of a copper recycling process that uses electrolysis to purify and recover copper metal from e-waste. As e-waste is a relatively new—and growing—issue, it demonstrates how new industries can develop that utilize skills from existing jobs.

  • Periodic Table, Elements, History, Chemical Properties, Model of the Atom, Subatomic Particles, Valence Electrons | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lesson Plan: The Periodic Table Turns 150 Emergency Lesson

    In this lesson, students will learn about elements, the history and organization of the periodic table, as well as the scientists who contributed to the development of the periodic table through reading the highly rated ChemMatters article, The Periodic Table Turns 150. The lesson includes several activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading. This lesson could be easily used as an emergency lesson plan for a substitute teacher, as most of the activities are self-guided.

  • Elements, Interdisciplinary, Photosynthesis | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lesson Plan: Growing Green on the Red Planet Emergency Lesson

    In this lesson, students will learn about elements, compounds, and chemical reactions through reading the highly rated ChemMatters article, Growing Green on the Red Planet. The lesson includes several activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading. This lesson could be easily used as an emergency lesson plan for a substitute teacher, as most of the activities are self-guided.

  • Physical Properties, Observations | Elementary School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Activity: Magnets and Metals

    In this activity, students will investigate magnets and see that they attract some metals but not others. Students will also get a chance to make a magnet “wand” to move a “skater” on a pretend frozen lake.

  • Separating Mixtures, Identifying an Unknown, Polarity, Intermolecular Forces, Molecular Structure | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lesson Plan: What Chemicals are in E-Cigarettes?

    In this lesson, students will learn about gas chromatography by comparing it to paper chromatography. Students will analyze gas chromatography data to learn more about the chemicals present in e-cigarettes. Finally, students will take the knowledge they learned to create an infographic. Students will post their infographic publicly to make a positive impact in their community.

  • Periodic Table, Ionization Energy, Electronegativity | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Activity: Introduction to Ionization Energy and Electronegativity with a Tactile Model

    In this activity, students will investigate the definitions of ionization energy and electronegativity as well as the periodic trends for each through building tactile models using Lego blocks.

  • Galvanic Cells, Redox Reaction, Oxidation, Reduction, Anode, Cathode, History | High School

    Lesson Plan: Columbia Dry Cell Battery

    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.

  • Saturated vs. Unsaturated, Molecular Structure , Molecular Structure, Covalent Bonding, Lewis Structures, Interdisciplinary, Dimensional Analysis, Intermolecular Forces, Melting Point | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lesson Plan: Dietary Fats

    In this lesson, students will learn about the chemistry of dietary fats in the food they eat. They will calculate the number of calories coming from fats, carbohydrates, and proteins based on a food label before completing a guided activity focused on investigating the chemical structures of different types of fats. Students will then engage in a literacy component where they will use an article about the biological role of various types of dietary fats and foods to answer a series of questions.

  • Separating Mixtures, Identifying an Unknown, Functional Groups, Molecular Structure | High School

    Lesson Plan: Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

    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.

  • Trends of the Periodic Table, Elements, Review | Middle School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Activity: Chemistry Pyramids

    In this activity, students will use the periodic table, combined with math and logic to solve several chemistry themed pyramid puzzles. In a traditional pyramid puzzle, there is a relationship between the numbers, which is used to determine the missing numbers. In all of these chemistry pyramids, each element symbol is determined by the sum of the two atomic numbers of the elements directly below it. Students are challenged with determining the missing element symbols in each puzzle, but first must use a periodic table to find the atomic number for each element symbol appearing in the puzzle. This activity is a fun challenge for students and provides the opportunity to strengthen logic and reasoning skills.

  • Physical Properties, Physical Change, Observations, Identifying an Unknown, Lab Safety, Molecular Shapes, Covalent Bonding, Ionic Bonding, Intermolecular Forces, Molecular Motion | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Animation: Physical Properties and Particle Interaction Animation

    This animation explores the relationship between physical properties and particle-level interactions. Particle diagrams of common household substances are used to illustrate that forces of attraction influence melting points. Similarly, particle diagrams of the same substances dissolved in water are used to compare their conductivity in solution. This animation was featured in the November 2023 issue of Chemistry Solutions. **This video has no audio**

  • Physical Properties, Physical Change, Observations, Identifying an Unknown, Lab Safety, Molecules & Bonding, Covalent Bonding, Ionic Bonding, Intermolecular Forces, Molecular Motion, Solutions, Conductivity, States of Matter, Melting Point, Intermolecular Forces, Molecular Motion | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Activity: Animation Activity: Physical Properties and Particle Interaction

    In this activity, students will view an animation that explores the relationship between physical properties and particle-level interactions. Particle diagrams of common household substances are used to illustrate that forces of attraction influence melting points. Similarly, particle diagrams of the same substances dissolved in water are used to compare their conductivity in solution.

  • Polyatomic Ions | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Activity: Polyatomic Ion Word Search

    In this activity, students will be challenged to recognize and identify common polyatomic ions by name and chemical formula. Unlike a traditional word search puzzle, students are only provided with a list of formulas for 24 polyatomic ions, instead of the names of each. They are tasked with finding the corresponding ion names hidden in the puzzle, and then must match each one with its correct formula.

  • Electromagnetic Spectrum, Observations, Scientific Method, Experimental Design, Error Analysis, Accuracy, Chemical Properties | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lesson Plan: Screen Your Sunscreen!

    In this lesson, students will learn more about UV radiation, its effect on skin, and the different ways in which sunscreen protects skin. After exploring this, students will develop an investigation to assess the claims made by different sun protection products. Students will compare the effectiveness of a variety of sunscreens and/or clothing that claim to offer sun protection. The lab will be wrapped up with a CER-style report.

  • Separating Mixtures, Distillation, Physical Properties | High School

    Activity: Investigating Crude Oil

    In this activity, students will watch a video and answer questions about crude oil and the process of fractional distillation. They will see how this process effectively separates a mixture and the importance of understanding physical properties.

  • Elements, Periodic Table, Interdisciplinary | Middle School, High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Activity: Simulation Activity: What Type of Element Are You?

    In this activity, students will take a nine question personality quiz to determine which of four types of elements best matches their personality. They will then have an opportunity to reflect on why their answers led to their final quiz results and to consider what the "personality profile" of other types of elements not included in this quiz might look like.

  • Elements, Interdisciplinary, Periodic Table | Middle School, High School

    Simulation: What Type of Element Are You?

    In this simulation, students will take a nine question personality quiz to determine which of four types of elements best matches their personality. The accompanying student activity provides students an opportunity to reflect on why their answers led to their final quiz results and to consider what the "personality profile" of other types of elements not included in this quiz might look like.

  • Chemical Change, Error Analysis, History, Exothermic & Endothermic, Chemical Change | Middle School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lesson Plan: The Chemistry of Casts

    In this lesson, students will learn about the history of the chemistry involved in creating orthopedic casts. Students will then work in small groups to conduct a hands-on experiment in which they will determine the optimum plaster of Paris to water ratio for model casts.

  • Observations, Mixtures, Physical Properties, Molecular Structure | Elementary School, Middle School

    Demonstration: Investigating Hand Sanitizer and Soap

    In this demonstration, students will consider the purpose of using both hand sanitizer and soap to wash their hands. They will observe a model of the interaction between hand sanitizer particles and virus particles, as well as between soap particles and virus particles to gain a better understanding of how soaps and sanitizers work.

  • History, Interdisciplinary | High School

    Lesson Plan: Marie Maynard Daly

    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.

  • Measurements, Significant Figures, Accuracy, Error Analysis, Intermolecular Forces, Accuracy, Error Analysis | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lesson Plan: Fit for Consumption?

    In this lesson, students will learn about a product recall of baby formula. Students will explore regulations around foods for human consumption and the quality control process that is part of food production. They will use their knowledge of the difference in intermolecular forces between solids and liquids to determine the moisture content in samples of powders. Students will then assume the role of quality control technicians and write a report in which they provide a data-informed decision as to whether their batch should be discarded or is fit for consumption.

  • Physical Change, Chemical Change, Observations, Chemical Change, Radioactive Isotopes | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Activity: Physical, Chemical and Nuclear Changes

    In this activity, students will analyze the representation of physical, chemical, and nuclear changes in four ways: submicroscopic (particle diagrams), symbolic (equations), macroscopic (observations), and linguistic (vocabulary words). This self-guided activity is designed to ensure that students internalize fundamental chemistry concepts that will serve as a meaningful basis for future learning about matter and its changes.

  • Alpha/Beta/Gamma Decay, Radioactive Isotopes, Graphing | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Activity: The Nuclear Decay of Uranium

    In this activity, students will model the Uranium decay series through nuclear equations, graphing, and particulate diagrams.

  • History, Observations, Identifying an Unknown, Molecular Structure , Functional Groups | High School

    Lesson Plan: Introduction to Flavor Chemistry

    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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