Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics

51 – 75 of 155 Classroom Resources

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  Separating Mixtures, Observations | Elementary School

  Lab: Settle that Soil

  In this lab, students will learn about what properties constitute soil and how it is different than “dirt.” Students will also be able to distinguish the difference between sand, silt, and clay.

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  Chemical Change, Chemical Change, Physical Change, Observations | 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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  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.

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  Scientific Method, Observations, Inferences, Intermolecular Forces, Mixtures | High School

  Lab: Magic Milk

  In this lab, students will investigate the addition of detergent to a mixture of whole milk and food coloring. Students will attempt to explain the cause of their observations. Also, students will have the opportunity to manipulate the experiment and determine how other variables may impact the results.

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  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.

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  Scientific Method, Observations | High School

  Lesson Plan: Is it Real Science or Pseudoscience?

  In this lesson, students will deepen their knowledge of the scientific method by learning how to determine if researched information is valid and if it should be used for gaining or furthering our scientific knowledge. Students will view the documentary “Mermaids: The Body Found”, a pseudo-documentary that was later reported to be a hoax by the Discovery Channel. They will then use a “Baloney Detection Kit” to analyze the authenticity of information presented through different media as scientific fact.

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  Separating Mixtures, Physical Properties, Observations, Matter, Introduction, Mixtures | Elementary School

  Activity: Sandbox

  In this activity the students will separate a mixture and classify objects by their physical properties.

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  Observations, Density, Physical Properties | Elementary School

  Demonstration: Will it Float?

  In this demonstration, students will observe the relationship between the density of a solution and its impact on an object’s ability to float or sink. Uncooked eggs will be placed in a tap water sample and in a salt water solution so that students can make observations and compare the results in order to make a determination regarding the density value for each item.

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

  Lab: Comparing Density of Liquids & Irregular 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

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  Chemical Change, Observations, Chemical Change, Oxidation | Elementary School

  Lab: Apple's Oxidation

  In this lab students will learn about the chemical reaction, oxidation, using apple wedges. They will apply different substances to a number of apple wedges to determine if these applications have any impact on the oxidation process. Students will also use a control sample so that they compare their results with an apple wedge that has not had any substance added to it. Students will measure and record the time it takes to see the changes to the apple which indicate oxidation. 3-46

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  Limiting Reactant, Chemical Change, Conservation of Mass, Stoichiometry, Chemical Change, Observations, Conservation of Mass | High School

  Demonstration: Understanding Limiting Reactants

  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 balloons. 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.

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  Matter, Physical Properties, Observations, Phase Changes | Elementary School

  Activity: Matter Can Taste Good!

  In this activity, students will be introduced to the general differences and organization of particles in each state of matter: solid, liquid and gas. They will have the opportunity to compare the samples and then will identify each state of matter during an edible activity.

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  Chemical Change, Physical Change, Observations | 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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  Conservation of Mass, Observations, Inferences, Matter, Error Analysis | High School

  Lab: Investigating Mass Change

  In this lab, students perform seven different investigations in order to develop an understanding of conservation of mass.

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  Chemical Change, Chemical Change, Observations, Acid Base Reactions, Chemical Change, Acid | Elementary School

  Lesson Plan: The Chemistry of Eggs

  In this lesson students will learn that vinegar can react with the Calcium in an egg shell to make it rubbery. First, the students will listen to the teacher read a book about eggs. The teacher will then put an egg in a jar with vinegar and let it set for two days. Students will make a prediction about what they think will happen to the egg, and then together they will investigate the final results.

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  Physical Properties, Density, Observations, Mixtures | Elementary School

  Activity: Discovery Tubes

  This is a fun, visual activity for young students. It allows for understanding of fundamental chemistry topics, including mixtures, miscibility, density and viscosity while analyzing a handheld colorful toy.

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  Activity Series, Chemical Change, Oxidation, Reduction, Net Ionic Equation, Redox Reaction, Observations | High School

  Lab: Fine Art of Redox

  In this lab, students will practice writing and balancing redox reactions and use the activity series to verify the outcome of a chemical reaction.

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  Physical Properties, Observations, Experimental Design, Scientific Method | High School

  Lesson Plan: Not Breaking Up is Hard to Do: the Properties of Glass

  In this lesson students will learn about the properties of glass, and relate those properties to the new engineering design of glass in a car.

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  Conservation of Mass, History, Observations, Measurements, SI Units | Elementary School, Middle School, High School

  Video: Antoine Lavoisier Video

  This video tells the story of Antoine Lavoisier who many consider to be the father or modern chemistry. Lavoisier discovered oxygen and hydrogen and first proposed the Law of Conservation of Mass.

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  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.

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  Limiting Reactant, Percent Yield, Stoichiometry, Balancing Equations, Measurements, Observations, Error Analysis, Separating Mixtures, Error Analysis, Dimensional Analysis, Mole Concept | High School

  Lab: Limiting Reactant Lab

  In this lab, students react copper(II) chloride with aluminum to determine the limiting reactant. They then isolate one product to determine their percent yield.

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  Limiting Reactant, Percent Yield, Stoichiometry, Balancing Equations, Net Ionic Equation, Concentration, Molarity, Precipitate, Solubility, Dimensional Analysis, Mole Concept, Observations, Graphing, Separating Mixtures, Identifying an Unknown | High School

  Lab: White Lab

  In this lab, students use molarity concepts to review limiting reactant concepts mathematically, conceptually, and graphically. They can then carry out a follow up investigation to identify an unknown using concepts learned in the first investigation.

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  Limiting Reactant, Balancing Equations, Stoichiometry, Observations | High School

  Lesson Plan: Limiting Reactant

  This lesson is intended to be used as an introduction to the concept of limiting reactants.

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  Phase Changes, Physical Change, Melting Point, Introduction, Observations | 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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  Heat, Temperature, Specific Heat, Observations, Molecular Motion | High School, Middle School

  Activity: What Makes Something Feel Warm

  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.