Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics

26 – 50 of 62 Classroom Resources

• 

  Temperature, History, Physical Properties, Measurements, SI Units, Accuracy | Elementary School, Middle School, High School

  Activity: Temperature Guys Video Questions

  In this activity, students will watch a video and answer questions about how both the thermometer and the concept of temperature evolved over time

• 

  History, Physical Properties, Matter, Observations | Elementary School, Middle School, High School

  Activity: Ancient Chemistry Video Questions

  In this activity, students will watch a video about the history of chemistry. They will answer questions while learning about the history of chemistry, starting with the discovery of fire, progressing through the various metal ages, and be introduced to the great philosophers.

• 

  Molecular Motion, Physical Properties | Middle School, High School

  Activity: Categorizing States of Matter

  In this activity students will analyze both written statements and images that describe the properties of a solid, liquid or gas. Students will determine which state of matter the description best describes and categorize it accordingly.

• 

  Physical Properties, Physical Change, Observations, Polymers | Elementary School, Middle School

  Lab: Paper or Plastic?

  In this lab students will research and compare the physical properties of various types of plastic bags. The recorded data will be analyzed by students, and they will use the results to design a plastic bag to meet a given set of criteria.

• 

  Physical Properties, Observations, Mixtures, Solute & Solvent, Mixtures | Middle School

  Lesson Plan: How Fast Does it Flow?

  In this lesson students explore the viscosity of different mixtures. They measure viscosity of different mixtures and then have the opportunity to design a mixture to attain a particular viscosity. Students will relate their lab experience to the application of viscosity in the real-world as they consider the differences in viscosity between different types of paints.

• 

  Separating Mixtures, Physical Properties, Mixtures, Solute & Solvent | Elementary School, Middle School

  Lab: What Does Ironman Eat for Breakfast?

  In this lab students will compare and contrast mixtures and solutions. They will be tasked with extracting iron from various breakfast cereals. They will then conclude which cereal would be the healthiest for Iron Man to eat for breakfast.

• 

  Polymers, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Physical Change, Chemical Change, Observations, Scientific Method, Mixtures | 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.

• 

  Polymers, Phase Changes, Physical Properties | Middle School

  Lab: Changing a Monomer to a Polymer!

  In this lab, students will have the opportunity to see the complexity of the different phases of matter. This lab will allow students to investigate polymers and physical properties, while connecting these concepts to the phases of matter. Students will also better understand that some substances are not easily identified as a particular phase of matter and that some substances can have characteristics of more than one phase of matter.

• 

  Phase Changes, Boiling Point, Melting Point, Physical Properties | Elementary School, Middle School

  Lesson Plan: Investigating Water's States of Matter

  In this lesson, the students will identify properties of different states of matter, and then work in groups to model molecular arrangement in the solid, liquid, and gaseous states of water. This lesson will also help students to understand that the change in state as a physical change and how the solid state of water has unique properties.

• 

  Separating Mixtures, Observations, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Mixtures | Elementary School, Middle School

  Lesson Plan: Clean-Up Pond Pollution

  In this lesson, students will compare polluted and filtered water to observe how filtering can remove some kinds of pollutants. Students will also be asked to consider how people affect ecosystems and use the scientific method to conduct an experiment on polluted water.

• 

  Physical Properties, Observations | Middle School, High School

  Lab: Abe Goes Swimming

  In this lab, students will investigate surface tension by comparing the number of liquid drops of water and of alcohol that can be held on the surface of a penny. An optional opportunity to investigate surfactants is also provided.

• 

  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.

• 

  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.

• 

  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.

• 

  Density, Physical Properties, Matter, Observations | Elementary School, Middle School

  Lab: Comparing Density of Liquids & Solids

  In this lab, students will measure mass and volume, calculate density, and compare the density of given liquids and solids, inferring what causes objects to sink or float in a given liquid. 3-48

• 

  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.

• 

  Temperature, History, Accuracy, Physical Properties | Elementary School, Middle School, High School

  Video: The Temperature Guys Video

  This video tells the story of how temperature as we currently know it evolved. The first thermometers invented in the early 1600s are very different than ones we use today!

• 

  Periodic Table, History, Physical Properties | Elementary School, Middle School, High School

  Video: Silicon Video

  In this video, Sam Kean tells stories about silicon.

• 

  Periodic Table, History, Physical Properties | Elementary School, Middle School, High School

  Video: Gallium Video

  In this video, Sam Kean tells stories about gallium.

• 

  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**

• 

  History, Physical Properties, Observations, Model of the Atom | Elementary School, Middle School, High School

  Video: Ancient Chemistry Video

  This video traces the history of chemistry from the discovery of fire, through the various metal ages, and finally to the great philosophers.

• 

  History, Interdisciplinary, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Observations, Mixtures | Middle School, High School

  Lab: Top Secret

  In this lab, students will learn about the history of invisible ink and will have the opportunity to compare two types of homemade invisible ink recipes.

• 

  Intermolecular Forces, Physical Properties, Melting Point, Boiling Point | High School, Middle School

  Activity: Simulation Activity: Exploring Intermolecular Forces with Odyssey

  In this simulation, students will learn about the different intermolecular forces. They will use the simulation to see how molecules in various species interact with one another.

• 

  Chemical Change, Physical Change, Separating Mixtures, Observations, Mixtures, Chemical Properties, Physical Properties, Experimental Design, Scientific Method | High School, Middle School

  Lab: Test Tube Separation

  In this lab, students will mix four substances in a test tube and recreate the original four layers through chemical and physical means.

• 

  Observations, Separating Mixtures, Mixtures, Interdisciplinary, Physical Properties, Scientific Method | High School, Middle School

  Activity: How Do We Clean Up An Oil Spill

  In this activity, students simulate an oil spill and test different materials’ ability to “clean” the oil spill.