Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics

26 – 50 of 76 Classroom Resources

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  Observations, Physical Properties, Physical Change, 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.

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  Observations, Physical Properties, Physical Change | Elementary School

  Lab: Changing Shape

  In this lab students will analyze the physical properties of different materials in order to investigate their elasticity. They will learn how to differentiate between objects that can easily change shape and those that cannot. Also they will see that some objects can change shape, but can also return to their original shape. As the students learn about material properties, they will also determine what materials can be recycled.

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  Intermolecular Forces, Physical Change, Intermolecular Forces | High School

  Demonstration: Intermolecular Forces & Physical Properties

  In this demonstration, students observe and compare the properties of surface tension, beading, evaporation, and miscibility for water and acetone.

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

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  Physical Change | High School

  Activity: Magic Bubble (High School)

  In this lesson, students will create and interpret particle diagrams that represent elements and compounds at the molecular level. They will also describe the process of dissolving and create particle diagrams that represent mixtures at the molecular level.

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  Phase Changes, Physical Change | Middle School

  Lab: I Can’t Believe It’s Butter!

  In this lab students will learn about the phases of matter and phase changes while making a small sample of butter.

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  Observations, Chemical Change, Physical Change, Chemical Change | Elementary School

  Demonstration: Make a Cake!

  In this demonstration, students will learn about chemical reactions by observing the differences when 4 small cakes are baked. Each recipe will differ slightly in that one important ingredient will be left out in 3 of the 4 mixtures. Students will observe and discuss what happens when things are missing or left out of a mixture and how that effects the chemical reaction.

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  Physical Properties, Chemical Change, Phase Changes, Physical Change, Matter | 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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  Physical Properties, Interdisciplinary, Physical Change, Matter, 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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  Physical Properties, Chemical Change, Physical Change, Chemical Change | 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.

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  Chemical Change, Physical Change, Conservation of Mass, Chemical Change | Middle School, High School

  Lab: Chemistry in a Bag

  In this lab, students will observe and identify chemical and physical changes contained inside a plastic bag. Students will also use this lab to understand the Law of Conservation of Mass.

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  Chemical Change, Melting Point, Phase Changes, Physical Change, Chemical Change, Scientific Method | Middle School

  Lab: S'more Change Please

  In this lab, students will be able to demonstrate the difference between a physical and chemical change by making ooey, gooey, yet yummy S’mores!

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  Chemical Change, Physical Change, Chemical Change | Elementary School, Middle School, High School

  Lab: Chemical and Physical Changes

  In this lab, students will observe and analyze a number of examples in order to determine if a chemical or physical change occurred.

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  Observations, Chemical Change, Physical Change | Elementary School

  Lab: Gummy Bear Investigation

  In this lab students will write a plan then conduct an experiment using the scientific method to observe the physical and chemical changes that a gummy bear will experience when placed in a solution of their choice.

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  Separating Mixtures, Chemical Change, Physical Change, Chemical Change, Exothermic & Endothermic | Elementary School

  Lab: Super Suds

  In this lab, students will investigate an endothermic chemical reaction by combining baking soda, hand soap and citric acid. The students will be tasked with differentiating between chemical and physical changes during this experiment.

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  Physical Properties, Physical Change, Chemical Change | Elementary School

  Lab: What's the Fizz?

  In this lab, students will make a lemon fizzy drink. Students will discuss what happens when things are mixed together.

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

  Video: Gold Video

  In this video, Sam Kean tells stories about gold.

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  Observations, Melting Point, Phase Changes, Introduction, Physical Change | Elementary School

  Lesson Plan: Let's Get Physical About Water

  In this lesson, students will learn about the phase changes of matter. During the course of two days students will perform several short experiments in order to change the state of water and they will record their observations.

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  Freezing Point, Phase Changes, Physical Change, Temperature | Middle School

  Lab: Lemon Ice

  This activity explores the interaction between salt and water (ice) as a way to further investigate their impact on the state of matter of a substance. Students will use salt and ice to create a slushy lemonade drink without the use of a freezer. They will learn through this hands-on experiment how salt and ice can rapidly cool a liquid.

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  Chemical Change, Physical Change, Identifying an Unknown, Acid Base Reactions | Middle School

  Lab: Is It a Hoax

  In this lab, students will perform tests on the physical and chemical properties of different substances to determine the identity of the unknown.

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  Intermolecular Forces, Polarity, Physical Change, Intermolecular Forces | High School

  Activity: Intermolecular Forces Activity

  In this activity, students will represent molecules and energy to investigate the different types of intermolecular forces.

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  Observations, Density, Chemical Change, Physical Change, Balancing Equations, Chemical Change, Physical Change, Mixtures | High School

  Lab: The Lovely Lava Lamp

  In this lab, students add food coloring to a mixture of oil and water and record their observations. They then add an Alka-Seltzer tablet, record their observations and answer a series of questions about the chemical and physical changes that took place.

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  Intermolecular Forces, Polarity, Physical Change, Molecular Motion, Molecular Motion, Intermolecular Forces | High School

  Activity: Simulation Activity: Comparing Attractive Forces

  In this activity, students will use a simulation to investigate different types of intermolecular forces (London dispersion and dipole-dipole). In the analysis that follows the activity, they will relate IMFs (including hydrogen bonding) to physical properties (boiling point and solubility).

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  Density, Temperature, Sublimation, Gas Laws, Density, Pressure, Phase Changes, Interdisciplinary, Physical Change, Mole Concept, Dimensional Analysis, Measurements, Ideal Gas, Volume | High School

  Demonstration: Ideal Gas Law using Carbon Dioxide

  In this demonstration, students observe dry ice sublime while the CO2 gas fills a balloon. They then calculate the moles and volume of CO2 produced.

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