Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics

26 – 39 of 39 Classroom Resources

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  Polymers, Physical Properties, Molecular Structure, Experimental Design, Scientific Method, History, Interdisciplinary | High School

  Lesson Plan: Give Your Car Some Bounce

  In this lesson students will learn about polymerization, specifically as it pertains to rubber tires and other materials in a vehicle. Students will take on the role of an engineer, and will investigate physical properties of different polymers and/or elastomers to determine the best material to use for an assigned product.

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  Separating Mixtures, Physical Change, Mixtures, Physical Properties, Experimental Design, Scientific Method, Error Analysis | High School, Middle School

  Lab: Separation of a Mixture

  In this lab, students devise their own method to separate a mixture of sand, salt, poppy seeds, and iron filings.

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  Reaction Rate, Experimental Design, Scientific Method, Observations, Chemical Change | High School, Middle School

  Lab: Reaction Rate

  In this lab, students will explore factors that effect reaction rate and develop a general statement that describes how the factors (temperature, particle size, and concentration) effect the rate based on experimental data. This is an inquiry-based activity.

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  Introduction, Interdisciplinary, Scientific Method, Experimental Design | High School

  Activity: Experimental Design using Science and Engineering Practices

  In this activity, students will read a short story about an experiment that was conducted about an everyday question. Then the student will decide if and how the experimenter followed the scientific method. Then they will consider their own everyday questions and propose a way to answer them experimentally.

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  Introduction, Scientific Method, Experimental Design | High School

  Activity: Procedure Pictures

  In this activity students are put into groups of 2 – 3 and are then charged with developing a procedure to investigate a provided “fact or fiction” statement. The twist to this task is that they are not allowed to use words; their entire procedure must be represented in pictures. This idea is based on the recent “Can You Picture That?” article by Julie Damico in the February 2014 edition of The Science Teacher magazine.

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  Heat, Specific Heat, Temperature, Experimental Design, Scientific Method, Physical Properties | High School, Middle School

  Lesson Plan: Designing & Engineering a Fast Defroster

  In this activity students use their understanding of energy transfer to “design a solution to a complex real-world problem, based on scientific knowledge, student-generated sources of evidence, prioritized criteria, and tradeoff considerations.”  And “evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem, based on scientific knowledge, student-generated sources of evidence, prioritized criteria, and tradeoff considerations.”  The real world problem is to help a cook who is trying to make a meal, but realizes some of the ingredients are frozen and must be thawed before he can begin.

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  Calorimetry, Exothermic & Endothermic, Heat, Specific Heat, Temperature, Scientific Method, Graphing, Experimental Design | High School

  Lab: Cool Science: Building and Testing a Model Radiator

  In this lab students construct a model of a car radiator to investigate parameters that lead to efficient cooling. Students investigate multiple variables as they experiment with various radiator designs. This lesson focuses on thermochemistry calculations and engineering practices.

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  Catalysts, Reaction Rate, Experimental Design, Scientific Method, Chemical Change, Error Analysis, Balancing Equations, Percent Yield, Stoichiometry, Chemical Change, Measurements, Error Analysis, Dimensional Analysis | High School

  Lesson Plan: Catalysis & Catalytic Converters

  In this lesson students will be introduced to catalysts while expanding their knowledge of chemical reactions and stoichiometry. They will first learn about catalytic converters and then be challenged to create the best “catalytic converter” of hydrogen peroxide to oxygen gas in an inquiry-based activity.

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  Density, Dimensional Analysis, Review, Measurements, Accuracy, Accuracy, Experimental Design, Error Analysis | High School, Middle School

  Lab: Bowling Ball—Will it Sink or Float in Water?

  In this lab, students will find the density of a bowling ball to determine whether it will sink or float in water.

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  Chemical Change, Identifying an Unknown, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Chemical Change, Experimental Design, Scientific Method | High School, Middle School

  Lab: As Easy as Pie

  In this lab, students will use chemical and physical properties to identify an unknown powder.

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  Radiation, Alpha/Beta/Gamma Decay, Graphing, Scientific Method, Experimental Design | High School

  Lab: Alpha Beta Gamma Radiation

  In this lab, students will investigate properties of three types of ionizing radiation—alpha, beta and gamma radiation. Students will have the opportunity to design their own procedures to explore the relationship between distance and radiation intensity.

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  Observations, Scientific Method, Experimental Design, Error Analysis | High School

  Lab: Airplanes

  In this lab, students will design a procedure to test for the intended outcome of a longest flight.

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  Observations, Combustion, Phase Changes, Experimental Design, Scientific Method | High School, Middle School

  Lab: Observing a Candle

  In this lab, students accumulate observations of a candle including a look at the combustion reaction's reactants and products.

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  Conservation of Mass, Matter, Conservation of Matter, Conservation of Matter, Conservation of Mass, Balancing Equations, Chemical Change, Predicting Products, Experimental Design, Chemical Change, Observations | High School

  Lab: Matter Matters

  In this lesson, students will investigate the Law of Conservation of Mass.