Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics
51 – 75 of 122 Classroom Resources
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History, Interdisciplinary, Chemical Change | Middle School, High School
Activity: Spellbound Episode 1 Ahmed Zewail Video Questions Mark as Favorite (2 Favorites)
In this activity, students will answer questions while watching a video from the Spellbound series produced by ACS. Each episode focuses on a different notable scientist, recounting how their interest in science was sparked in their childhood and how they went on to make great contributions to the scientific community. This first episode focuses on the childhood of Ahmed Zewail, who went on to become the 1999 Chemistry Nobel Laureate.
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History, Interdisciplinary | Middle School, High School
Activity: Spellbound Episode 2 Kristala L. Jones Prather Video Questions Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
In this activity, students will answer questions while watching a video from the Spellbound series produced by ACS. Each episode focuses on a different notable scientist, recounting how their interest in science was sparked in their childhood and how they went on to make great contributions to the scientific community. This second episode focuses on the childhood of Kristala L. Jones Prather, who went on to become a chemical engineer and award-winning professor.
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Gas Laws, Pressure, Volume, History | Middle School, High School
Activity: Robert Boyle Video Questions Mark as Favorite (19 Favorites)
In this activity, students will watch a video and answer questions about Robert Boyle. They will learn about his impact in chemistry, including Boyle’s Law which describes the relationship between pressure and volume of a gas.
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History, Chemical Change | Middle School, High School
Activity: Spellbound Episode 3 Bassam Shakhashiri Video Questions Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
In this activity, students will answer questions while watching a video from the Spellbound series produced by ACS. Each episode focuses on a different notable scientist, recounting how their interest in science was sparked in their childhood and how they went on to make great contributions to the scientific community. This third episode focuses on the childhood of Bassam Shakhashiri, whose early interest in colors led him to study chemistry and become a passionate chemistry educator and ambassador.
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History | Middle School, High School
Activity: Spellbound Episode 4 Mamie Moy Video Questions Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
In this activity, students will answer questions while watching a video from the Spellbound series produced by ACS. Each episode focuses on a different notable scientist, recounting how their interest in science was sparked in their childhood and how they went on to make great contributions to the scientific community. This fourth episode focuses on the childhood of Mamie Moy, who was one of few women in her time to study chemistry and get a master’s degree. She has been a devoted professor for decades, is involved in outreach, supports K-12 science educators, and mentors young women pursuing science careers.
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History | Middle School, High School
Activity: Spellbound Episode 5 Isiah Warner Video Questions Mark as Favorite (1 Favorite)
In this activity, students will answer questions while watching a video from the Spellbound series produced by ACS. Each episode focuses on a different notable scientist, recounting how their interest in science was sparked in their childhood and how they went on to make great contributions to the scientific community. This fifth episode focuses on the childhood of Isiah Warner, who is an African American chemistry professor and researcher at LSU. He has won awards for his decades-long teaching career and for the programs he founded to encourage and mentor African American students pursuing advanced chemistry degrees.
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Temperature, History, Interdisciplinary, Chemical Change, Temperature, Heat | Middle School, High School
Lab: Greenhouse Gas Simulation Mark as Favorite (35 Favorites)
In this lab, students will create two simulations of the Earth’s atmosphere. They will compare a control model with a one that has an increased presence of carbon dioxide gas in order to analyze how this effects temperature. They will also complete research in order to learn more about the makeup of the Earth’s atmosphere.
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Elements, Periodic Table, Interdisciplinary, History, Atoms, Model of the Atom | Middle School, High School
Project: Element Baby Book Mark as Favorite (46 Favorites)
In this activity, students will “adopt” an element and create a baby book about their “new baby” while they research and learn about the element.
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Galvanic Cells, Redox Reaction, Oxidation, Reduction, Anode, Cathode, History | High School
Lesson Plan: Columbia Dry Cell Battery Mark as Favorite (6 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about electrochemistry and electric cells (batteries) by reading an article and engaging in related activities. The activities help promote literacy in the science classroom. Parts of this lesson could be used as plans for a substitute teacher.
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Elements, Model of the Atom, History, Introduction, Matter, Observations, Periodic Table, Culminating Project, Atoms | Middle School, High School
Activity: Is a Picture Worth 1000 Words? Mark as Favorite (4 Favorites)
In this activity, students will learn about early chemistry discoveries through a textbook reading as well as from a cartoon.
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Atoms, Subatomic Particles, Isotopes, Atomic Theory, History, Elements | Middle School, High School
Activity: Atomic Structure RAFT Mark as Favorite (39 Favorites)
In this activity, students choose from a number of activity options in order to best display their understanding of atomic structure. The RAFT model will be followed for this assignment, which means the students choose their assignment and may modify the assignment based on Role, Audience, Format, and Topic.
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Periodic Table, Elements, History, Subatomic Particles, Atomic Mass, Ionic Bonding, Covalent Bonding | Middle School, High School
Project: Exploring Elements Mark as Favorite (46 Favorites)
In this project, students will select an element and then use Ptable.com to explore aspects of the element including its periodicity, electron configuration, history, and uses in industry.
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History, Interdisciplinary, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Observations, Mixtures | Middle School, High School
Lab: Top Secret Mark as Favorite (25 Favorites)
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.
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Atoms, Model of the Atom, Atomic Theory, Matter, Elements, History, Introduction, Periodic Table | Middle School, High School
Animation: Atoms: The Building Blocks of Matter Animation Mark as Favorite (43 Favorites)
This animation explores the idea that everything is made of atoms, and that since atoms are so extremely small, even small objects contain vast numbers of atoms. Students will see several examples to illustrate this point. Then they will be given a brief overview of the evolution of how people thought about atoms from the ancient Greeks through Dalton. This animation was featured in the May 2022 issue of Chemistry Solutions. **This video has no audio**
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Introduction, History, Periodic Table, Elements, Observations, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties | High School
Lesson Plan: What is Chemistry? Mark as Favorite (25 Favorites)
In this lesson, students watch a video narrated by Bill Nye, and then complete a SOMA cube to enhance their perspective in the process of discovery.
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Interdisciplinary, History, Polymers, Polymers, Condensation, Monomer, Monomer, Alloys | High School
Lesson Plan: Synthetic Materials Through History Mark as Favorite (11 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about the history of synthesized materials through reading an article. 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.
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Periodic Table, History, Identifying an Unknown | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: Arsenic Video Mark as Favorite (41 Favorites)
In this video, Sam Kean tells stories about arsenic, a deadly element that was once referred to as the "Inheritance Powder".
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Molecular Formula, Empirical Formula, History, Interdisciplinary | High School
Activity: Herbal Remedies Mark as Favorite (49 Favorites)
In this activity, students learn how the modern atomic theory evolved. They further their understanding of empirical and molecular formulas through research and a presentation of an herbal remedy.
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History, Interdisciplinary | High School
Lesson Plan: Marie Maynard Daly Mark as Favorite (15 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about the significant contributions to chemistry by Dr. Marie Maynard Daly, the first Black woman to earn a doctorate in chemistry in the U.S. Students will read an article and engage in related activities that help to promote literacy in the science classroom. Parts of this lesson could be used as plans for a substitute teacher. This lesson provides teachers with strategies to address diversity, equity, and inclusion in the chemistry curriculum.
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History, Chemical Change, Interdisciplinary | High School, Middle School
Activity: Tie Dye Mark as Favorite (29 Favorites)
In this activity, students make tie-dye shirts and complete a worksheet about a reading from ChemMatters about how dyes work. It gives students the opportunity to apply chemistry to everyday life.
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History, Interdisciplinary | High School
Activity: Sustainability Mark as Favorite (16 Favorites)
In this activity, students are introduced to the idea of sustainability by building a vocabulary that they will use and develop through the unit. The subsequent unit focuses on water sustainability, specifically.
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Interdisciplinary, History, Solubility, Concentration | High School
Lesson Plan: Legacy of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring Mark as Favorite (20 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will read an article to learn about the impact Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring has had. Arguably, the U.S. EPA was formed as a result, and a Nobel Prize-worthy discovery was banned after the book was published. 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 since most of the activities are self-guided.
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Intermolecular Forces, Intramolecular Forces, Polymers, History, Interdisciplinary | High School
Lesson Plan: Scotch Transparent Tape Mark as Favorite (24 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about how sticky tape was developed through reading an article. 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.
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Interdisciplinary, History, Electromagnetic Spectrum | High School
Lesson Plan: Isolation of Phytochrome Mark as Favorite (4 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about plant cycles of development in relation to the electromagnetic spectrum through reading an article. 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.
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Elements, History, Chemical Properties, Physical Properties, Identifying an Unknown, Ionic Bonding, Naming Compounds | High School
Lesson Plan: Joseph Priestley, Discoverer of Oxygen Mark as Favorite (16 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will read an article to learn about the discovery and identification of gases, specifically oxygen by Joseph Priestley. 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.