51 – 75 of 107 Classroom Resources

• 

  Experimental Design, Scientific Method, Graphing, Observations | Middle School, High School

  Lab: Mentos and Soda Investigations Mark as Favorite (22 Favorites)

  In this lab, students will design their own experiment in which they manipulate a variable that relates to Mentos and soda. Students will generate a testable question, design an experiment, collect and analyze the data and present their findings.

• 

  Scientific Method, Experimental Design, Observations, Introduction, Graphing | Middle School, High School

  Lab: Applying the Scientific Method to Stain Removal Mark as Favorite (62 Favorites)

  In this lab, students will explore the real scientific process by designing an experiment to solve a problem. Students will learn about basic lab equipment, safety, and the scientific process of trial and error while solving a common problem: What color of food coloring requires the most bleach to remove?

• 

  Observations, Physical Properties, Solubility, Ionic Bonding | High School, Middle School

  Lab: Microscopic Wonder Mark as Favorite (25 Favorites)

  In this lab, students observe and describe the shape, size, and arrangement of salt crystals at various magnifications under a microscope and then compare the properties of each microscopically.

• 

  Periodic Table, Elements, Matter, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Observations, Identifying an Unknown | High School, Middle School

  Lab: Periodic Table Trends Mark as Favorite (32 Favorites)

  In this lab, students will investigate trends of the periodic table by examining samples of six elements. Students will use observations about the elements’ appearance, conductivity, and malleability to determine whether they are metals, nonmetals, or metalloids. They will also see how these elements, as well as two more in a teacher demo, react with water and use this information to make claims about reactivity patterns in the periodic table.

• 

  Quantitative Chemistry, Percent Composition, Measurements, Observations | High School

  Lab: Dehydration of Hydrated Salt Mark as Favorite (8 Favorites)

  In this lab, students are introduced to chemical measurement in a hands-on investigation using a heat source and a hydrated compound. Students will determine the percentage water lost, by mass, from a hydrated compound during the heating process. Additionally, students will analyze and interpret their results in a claim, evidence, reasoning format.

• 

  Activity Series, Chemical Change, Electrons, Electron Transfer, Balancing Equations, Chemical Change, Predicting Products, Observations, Acid Base Reactions | High School

  Simulation: Metals In Aqueous Solutions Mark as Favorite (121 Favorites)

  In this activity, students will run simulated tests of various metals in aqueous solutions to determine the relative reactivity of these metals. A total of eight metals will be observed in various combinations with the corresponding metal nitrate solutions and hydrochloric acid. Students will interpret the data collected to construct an activity series of the elements used in this simulation.

• 

  Measurements, SI Units, Physical Properties, Observations | High School

  Lesson Plan: Setting the Standards of Excellence Mark as Favorite (13 Favorites)

  In this lesson, students will learn about standards through a reading about the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which is the U.S. body that defines standards. There are a series of activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading. This lesson could be easily used as plans for a substitute teacher, as most of the activities are self-guided.

• 

  Acid Rain, Chemical Change, Acid Base Reactions, pH, Chemical Change, Classification of Reactions, Observations, Interdisciplinary | High School

  Activity: Investigating Acid Rain Mark as Favorite (28 Favorites)

  In this activity, students will investigate the chemistry of acid rain through web based research. Students will also have the opportunity to observe the reaction between a common acid and a material in a week long simulation and relate their findings to the effects of acid rain.

• 

  Identifying an Unknown, Observations, Physical Change, Physical Properties, Chemical Change, Chemical Properties, Solubility, Precipitate, Indicators | High School

  Lab: Using Qualitative Analysis to Identify Household Compounds Mark as Favorite (64 Favorites)

  In this lab, students will be introduced to common laboratory techniques, safety procedures, lab reagents, and terminology, all while identifying unknown household substances. Students will learn how to use qualitative analysis techniques as a systematic way to identify unknown materials. As part of this process, they will practice careful observation and documentation, as well as identifying relevant physical and chemical properties and changes, including solubility, color change, gas formation, and precipitation of solids.

• 

  Combustion, Chemical Change, Catalysts, Acid Base Reactions, Chemical Change, Balancing Equations, Classification of Reactions, Observations, Chemical Change | High School, Middle School

  Demonstration: Stop & Go Gases Mark as Favorite (7 Favorites)

  In this demonstration, students will witness the ability of carbon dioxide to extinguish a flame and oxygen to feed a flame. They will also be introduced to the concept of catalysts. This demonstration could also be used as an opportunity to practice writing and balancing equations and classifying chemical reactions.

• 

  Identifying an Unknown, Experimental Design, Chemical Properties, Physical Properties, Observations, Polyatomic Ions, Chemical Change, Ionic Bonding, Covalent Bonding, Solubility | High School

  Lab: Determining the Composition of Bridge Straw Stalactites Mark as Favorite (8 Favorites)

  In this lab, students will investigate “straws” that hang from a local bridge, and then determine various tests that can help to determine their chemical composition. Evaluating both the test results, as well as given information students will then make a claim about the composition, while providing evidence and supporting it with reasoning.

• 

  Heat, Temperature, Specific Heat, Observations, Molecular Motion | High School, Middle School

  Activity: What Makes Something Feel Warm Mark as Favorite (58 Favorites)

  In this lesson students actively engage in thinking about energy issues in chemistry and the nature of energy (thermal) transfer. The idea that temperature is a measure of heat content will be challenged, and students will be given the opportunity to collect data that will allow them to clearly see that different materials transfer energy at different rates.

• 

  Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Physical Change, Chemical Change, Observations | High School

  Lab: Determining Physical and Chemical Properties Mark as Favorite (48 Favorites)

  In this lab, students will determine the physical and chemical properties of several different substances through testing and observation. Additionally, they will further their understanding of chemical and physical changes, and their ability to recognize each type of change.

• 

  Redox Reaction, History, Oxidation, Reduction, Chemical Change, Observations | High School

  Demonstration: Nitric Acid Acts Upon Copper Mark as Favorite (13 Favorites)

  In this demonstration, students will hear a story about Ira Remsen and watch a demonstration that recreates her first experiment reacting nitric acid with a copper penny.

• 

  Heat of Vaporization , Boiling Point, Intermolecular Forces, Phase Changes, Heating Curve, Heat of Combustion, Temperature, Specific Heat, Observations, Chemical Change, Physical Change | Middle School, High School

  Demonstration: Cooking an Egg in Chemistry Class Mark as Favorite (7 Favorites)

  In this demonstration, students will observe the very high latent heat of vaporization for water by boiling water over a Bunsen burner in a paper cup to cook a boiled egg. The discussion can be extended to incorporate intermolecular forces to explain the unusually high boiling point of water, as well as heat of vaporization and specific heat capacity.

• 

  Solubility, Solute & Solvent, Precipitate, Mixtures, Error Analysis, Chemical Change, Physical Change, Observations, Identifying an Unknown, Graphing | Middle School, High School

  Lab: Chemicals, Chromatography, and Crime! Mark as Favorite (53 Favorites)

  In this lab, students will test “evidence” that has been collected from a crime scene. In order to determine if the victim was poisoned, students will perform a solubility and crystallization test on an unknown powder. Then, students will attempt to identify the culprit by using paper chromatography to analyze the lipstick from the potential criminals.

• 

  Density, Density, Chemical Change, Observations, Inferences | High School, Middle School

  Demonstration: Comparing Gas Density Mark as Favorite (8 Favorites)

  In this demonstration, students will observe a reaction between baking soda and vinegar in the presence of a variety of different heights of lit candles. The initial environment has plenty of oxygen present in order to sustain the candle’s flame; however the reaction will produce carbon dioxide which will cause the lit candles to extinguish in order of height. Students will analyze and compare the presence of the gases in the container and make determinations about the densities of each.

• 

  Atomic Spectra, Activity Series, Emission Spectrum, Ions, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Emission Spectrum, Observations, Inferences | High School

  Lab: Flame Test: Going Further Mark as Favorite (61 Favorites)

  In this lab, students will investigate the colors produced when several mixtures of metallic ions are placed in a flame.

• 

  Predicting Products, Activity Series, Chemical Change, Chemical Change, Observations | High School

  Project: Wastewater Recovery Mark as Favorite (73 Favorites)

  In this project, students will analyze test results in order to design a procedure for recovering certain metals from wastewater using their knowledge of the Activity Series of Metals and single replacement reactions. Based on their analysis, students will create a proposal for presentation in an effort to recommend the best plan for reclaiming the metals from the wastewater.

• 

  Physical Change, Chemical Change, Observations, Molecular Structure | Middle School, High School

  Lab: Determining a Chemical or Physical Change Mark as Favorite (29 Favorites)

  In this lab, students will follow a laboratory procedure that instructs them how to heat a small sample of copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate. Students will make observations in order to determine if a chemical or physical change occurs.

• 

  Limiting Reactant, Chemical Change, Conservation of Mass, Stoichiometry, Observations, Inferences, Chemical Change, Exothermic & Endothermic | High School

  Demonstration: Introducing Limiting Reactants Mark as Favorite (15 Favorites)

  In this demonstration, the teacher will perform a series of reactions between acetic acid--vinegar-- and varying amounts of sodium bicarbonate --baking soda--in order to inflate several Ziploc bags. Students will observe the reactions and analyze the quantities of reactants used as well as the results in order to understand the concept of limiting reactants. Students will also determine if the reaction is an endothermic or exothermic process based on their observations.

• 

  Solubility, Intermolecular Forces, Intermolecular Forces, Mixtures, Intramolecular Forces, Polarity, Observations, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Identifying an Unknown, Mixtures | High School

  Lab: Solubility & Compound Type Mark as Favorite (41 Favorites)

  In this lesson, students determine whether unknown substances are polar, nonpolar, or ionic by testing their solubilities.

• 

  Chemical Change, Observations, Acids & Bases, Chemical Change, Mixtures | Elementary School, Middle School, High School

  Demonstration: Inflating a Balloon with Chemistry Mark as Favorite (29 Favorites)

  In this demonstration, the teacher will perform a reaction between acetic acid (vinegar) and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) in order to inflate a balloon and to introduce the concept of a chemical reaction to students. Students will observe the reaction, and identify indicators of chemical change as well as discuss the different types of matter that are involved.

• 

  Periodic Table, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Observations, Inferences, Chemical Change, Identifying an Unknown, Error Analysis | High School

  Lab: Metal, Non-Metal, or Metalloid Mark as Favorite (81 Favorites)

  In this lab, students will classify several samples of elements as metals, nonmetals, or metalloid based on their physical and chemical properties.

• 

  Physical Properties, Observations | Middle School, High School

  Lab: Abe Goes Swimming Mark as Favorite (14 Favorites)

  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.