Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics

76 – 100 of 125 Classroom Resources

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  Atomic Spectra, Emission Spectrum, Emission Spectrum, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Interdisciplinary, Identifying an Unknown | Middle School, High School

  Lab: Spectral Detective

  In this lab, students will use a spectroscope to view the atomic spectra of various unknown elements. Using their collected data in combination with known atomic spectra, they will identify the chemical elements.

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  Culminating Project, Interdisciplinary, History, Renewable Energy | High School

  Project: Understanding Renewable Energy

  In this project, students will conduct research in order to become an “expert” on a specific type of renewable energy source. Students will produce a media presentation and a poster board as well as participate in a symposium focused on renewable energy sources.

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  Interdisciplinary | High School

  Activity: Forensic Chemistry Crossword

  In this activity, students are challenged to solve forensic chemistry themed clues in order to complete a crossword puzzle.

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  Introduction, Interdisciplinary, Scientific Method | High School

  Activity: Write the Methods Section

  In this activity, students will learn how to write and think like a scientist when they complete their lab write ups.

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  History, Interdisciplinary, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Observations, Mixtures | Middle School, High School

  Lab: Top Secret

  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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  History, Chemical Change, Interdisciplinary | High School, Middle School

  Activity: Tie Dye

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

  Activity: Investigating Acid Rain

  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.

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  Gas Laws, Sublimation, Ideal Gas, Volume, Temperature, Pressure, Density, Phase Changes, Interdisciplinary, Density, Physical Change, Mole Concept, Dimensional Analysis, Measurements | 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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  Molecular Structure, Interdisciplinary, Scientific Method | Middle School

  Lesson Plan: The Effect of Different Foods on Mealworms

  In this lesson, students will look at the chemistry of the molecules of carbohydrates, fats, and lipids, and they will use this information to determine a diet for their mealworm and will collect information about the mealworm to test a hypothesis.

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  Identifying an Unknown, Culminating Project, Classification of Reactions, Experimental Design, Scientific Method, Interdisciplinary, Review, Balancing Equations, Stoichiometry, Concentration, Molarity | High School

  Lab: The Culminating Unknown

  In this lab, students identify an unknown from a list of 12 possible compounds by designing a procedure and using evidence to prove their claim. They must draw from knowledge gained throughout the year to properly develop a procedure to identify the unknown.

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  Photosynthesis, Conservation of Mass, Balancing Equations, Chemical Change, Reversible Reactions, Molecular Formula, Interdisciplinary, Chemical Change, Conservation of Mass | Middle School

  Lesson Plan: The Building Blocks of Photosynthesis

  In this lesson, students will use colored blocks to represent the elements in photosynthesis and illustrate how they are broken down and reassembled to create glucose.

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  Introduction, Interdisciplinary | High School

  Lesson Plan: How To Write a Formal Lab

  In this lesson, students learn how to put the parts of a formal lab write up together.

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  History, Interdisciplinary | High School

  Activity: Sustainability

  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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  Observations, Separating Mixtures, Mixtures, Interdisciplinary, Physical Properties, Scientific Method | High School, Middle School

  Activity: How Do We Clean Up An Oil Spill

  In this activity, students simulate an oil spill and test different materials’ ability to “clean” the oil spill.

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  Molecular Formula, Empirical Formula, History, Interdisciplinary | High School

  Activity: Herbal Remedies

  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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  Temperature, History, Interdisciplinary, Chemical Change, Temperature, Heat | Middle School, High School

  Lab: Greenhouse Gas Simulation

  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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  Density, Physical Properties, Graphing, Interdisciplinary, Observations, Error Analysis, Measurements, Error Analysis | High School

  Lab: Graphing Density

  In this lab, students will collect data and then use graphing to determine the density values of unknown metal samples.

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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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  Atomic Theory, History, Interdisciplinary, Culminating Project, Model of the Atom | High School, Middle School

  Activity: Scientist Infographic

  In this activity, students will design and publish an infographic focused on a well-known scientist and their contribution to the development of the atomic model.

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  Combustion, Heat of Combustion, Stoichiometry, Balancing Equations, Dimensional Analysis, Interdisciplinary, Culminating Project | High School

  Lesson Plan: Redesigning a Car for the Environment

  Chemland’s city public transportation board has requested the class to help them determine the direction the city should move towards in reducing the carbon footprint. Students will be divided into groups and will come up with proposals of how to reduce the carbon footprint from carbon dioxide released from vehicles. The groups will represent different ways to reduce the carbon footprint via an alternative fuel source or a new technology. They will debate their findings to determine the direction that the city council should move towards to reduce the carbon footprint.

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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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  Acid, Mixtures, Acid Rain, Interdisciplinary, Chemical Properties | Elementary School, Middle School

  Lesson Plan: Environmental Problems

  In this lesson, students are presented with an environmental problem to solve using important concepts of chemistry, which involves a lake with deteriorating water quality.

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  Introduction, Observations, Interdisciplinary, Scientific Method | Middle School, High School

  Activity: Engineering Project

  In this activity, students work together in a small team in order to solve a problem and achieve a common goal. Students will need to work collaboratively in order to be successful. They will be required to communicate their ideas both verbally and in written form, assign duties, design and carry out a procedure in this activity. They will also be challenged with problem solving when/if their original plan fails.

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  Elements, Periodic Table, Interdisciplinary, History, Atoms, Model of the Atom | Middle School, High School

  Project: Element Baby Book

  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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  Electricity, Atoms, Electrons, Electrons, Culminating Project, Interdisciplinary | Elementary School, Middle School

  Activity: Electrical Circuit Quiz Box

  In this activity, students will learn that the flow of electrons within a closed circuit make our lives easier. Students will construct a circuit quiz box that lights up when the correct question and answer are chosen.