Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics

26 – 50 of 51 Classroom Resources

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  Physical Change, Chemical Change, Matter, Mixtures, Mixtures | Elementary School

  Activity: Chemistry in the Kitchen!

  In this activity, students will describe the steps required to complete a recipe of their choosing. They will identify any physical and chemical changes that occur throughout the process.

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  Separating Mixtures, Observations, Physical Properties, Conservation of Matter | Elementary School

  Activity: How is Chemistry Used in Your Everyday Life?

  In this lesson the students will become familiar with some ways that chemistry is present in their everyday lives. The teacher will read a book and show a short video about how a plastic bottle is made. Following these activities, students will interact with a variety of materials made of plastic, ultimately organizing them according to the recycling code printed on the bottom of each or by physical properties. Finally students will collect data and have an opportunity to construct a graph based on their data.

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  Physical Properties | Elementary School

  Activity: The Attraction of Magnets

  In this activity, students will be able to investigate the physical property of magnetism and determine that magnets have the ability to attract and repel some objects while pushing and pulling “race cars” around a track.

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  Review, Culminating Project | Elementary School, Middle School, High School

  Project: Icosahedron!

  In this project, students will create an icosahedron, a twenty sided ball, to present information about a topic. The icosahedron can be used for any topic that would require the allocation and presentation of material.

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  Periodic Table, Elements, Subatomic Particles, Model of the Atom | Elementary School, Middle School

  Activity: Element Brochure

  In this activity, students will research a common element from the periodic table and create a brochure about it. Students will include information about its atomic structure, subatomic particles, Bohr model, chemical symbol, and common uses.

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  Physical Properties, Physical Change, Chemical Change, Matter, Phase Changes | Elementary School

  Activity: Analyzing Root Beer Floats

  In this activity students will observe the states of matter while making a root beer float. They will also discover the differences between a solid, a liquid and a gas.

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  Subatomic Particles, Model of the Atom, Elements, Molecular Formula | Middle School, Elementary School

  Project: What's It Made Of?

  In this project each student will conduct research to discover what compounds, molecules, and elements make up a basic everyday object of their choice. The student will create a poster detailing what the object is made of, including a Bohr model. The student will also create a question about their object’s atomic structure for their peers as part of a culminating project gallery walk to observe, discuss, and learn about each poster.

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  Physical Properties, Matter, Physical Change, Interdisciplinary, Separating Mixtures, Mixtures | Elementary School

  Activity: Creating Finger-Paint from Rocks

  In this activity, the students will explore the physical properties of different rocks. Students will have the opportunity to physically change the rocks, and make them part of a mixture in order to create finger paint.

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  Separating Mixtures, Physical Properties, Observations, Matter, Introduction, Mixtures | Elementary School

  Activity: Sandbox!

  In this activity the students will separate a mixture and classify objects by their physical properties.

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  Physical Properties, Density, Separating Mixtures, Matter, Culminating Project, Interdisciplinary, Phase Changes | Elementary School, Middle School

  Activity: The Castaway!

  In this activity, students use their knowledge of the properties of matter to create and/or design items needed for survival on a deserted island.

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  Physical Properties, Density, Chemical Properties, Matter, Interdisciplinary | Middle School, Elementary School

  Activity: Astronaut on a Mission

  In this activity students will take on the role as a NASA employee on a mission to discover what resources humans need in order to survive on a planet outside of our solar system. Students will come up with a plan including a list of materials and resources needed to sustain life on another planet. They will need to compare each planet and determine which is most ready to support life.

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  Physical Properties, Molecular Structure, Polarity | High School, Elementary School, Middle School

  Activity: What Makes Water So Special?

  In this activity, students will become familiar with the special properties of water by completing several activities that investigate the following physical properties/phenomena: cohesion, adhesion, surface tension, and capillary action.

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  Matter, Physical Properties, Observations, Phase Changes | Elementary School

  Activity: Matter Can Taste Good!

  In this activity, students will be introduced to the general differences and organization of particles in each state of matter: solid, liquid and gas. They will have the opportunity to compare the samples and then will identify each state of matter during an edible activity.

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  Physical Properties, Density, Observations, Mixtures | Elementary School

  Activity: Discovery Tubes

  This is a fun, visual activity for young students. It allows for understanding of fundamental chemistry topics, including mixtures, miscibility, density and viscosity while analyzing a handheld colorful toy.

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  Atomic Radius, Ionic Radius, Electrons, Model of the Atom, Subatomic Particles, Periodic Table | Elementary School, Middle School, High School

  Animation: Atomic & Ionic Radii Animation

  This animation explores patterns in atomic and ionic radii. Students will look at the different sizes of atoms in the third period and the atoms in the sixth group to see trends across periods and down groups. They will also look at an atom and its corresponding cation as well as an atom and its corresponding anion. **This video has no audio**

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  Density, Matter, Physical Properties, Measurements | Elementary School, Middle School, High School

  Animation: Density Animation

  This animation explores density on the particulate level. There are opportunities to make qualitative and quantitative comparisons between substances. **This video has no audio**

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  Periodic Table, Elements, Introduction, History, Atoms, Electrons, Subatomic Particles | Middle School, Elementary School, High School

  Activity: Writing Your Name using Chemical Element Symbols

  In this activity, students will use their creativity to spell their name (first or middle name and their last name) using chemical symbols of elements on the periodic table. For example, you can spell Yvonne using the symbols for yttrium (Y), vanadium (V), oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), and neon (Ne).

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  Lab Safety | High School, Elementary School, Middle School

  Activity: What Not to do in the Chemistry Lab

  In this activity, students will examine a cartoon of a chaotic chemistry laboratory and note the specific behaviors that are dangerous and unsafe in a chemistry laboratory setting. This activity provides an opportunity for teachers to introduce laboratory safety and best laboratory practices and discuss them with their students.

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  Physical Properties, Observations, Matter | Elementary School

  Activity: Sorting Buttons

  In this lab, students will investigate observable properties of matter. Students will use their knowledge of physical properties to create and separate mixtures of assorted buttons based on the characteristics of color, shape and number of holes.

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  Observations, Density, Physical Properties, Introduction | Elementary School

  Activity: Sink or Float

  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.

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  Physical Properties, Introduction, Matter, Chemical Properties | Elementary School

  Activity: Properties of Matter

  In this activity, students will focus on the properties of matter and distinguish matter by their physical properties

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  Electricity, Atoms, Electrons, Electrons, Culminating Project, Interdisciplinary | Elementary School, Middle School

  Activity: Electrical Circuit Quiz Box

  In this activity, students will learn that the flow of electrons within a closed circuit make our lives easier. Students will construct a circuit quiz box that lights up when the correct question and answer are chosen.

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  Observations | Middle School, Elementary School, High School

  Activity: Compare and Contrast

  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.

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  Observations, Mixtures, Density, Physical Properties, Mixtures | Elementary School

  Activity: Color-Works in a Jar

  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.

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  Polymers, Physical Properties, Introduction, Observations | Elementary School

  Activity: Bouncy Ball

  In this activity, students explore the chemical reaction between borax and glue, creating a polymer ball. The properties of the polymer ball will be analyzed and compared to a store bought bouncy ball.