Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics
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101 – 125 of 234 Classroom Resources
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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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Specific Heat, Heat, Temperature, Experimental Design | Middle School, High School
Activity: Simulation Activity: Understanding Specific Heat Mark as Favorite (33 Favorites)
In this simulation, students will play the role of engineer in deciding which materials are the best candidates for a building project. They will calculate the specific heat capacity of various building materials to determine which ones meet the criteria for building an energy efficient home. Students will also do a cost analysis to determine which material to use in their building project. On the student activity sheet, they will answer additional conceptual and numerical questions related to specific heat capacity.
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Periodic Table, Introduction, Elements, Identifying an Unknown | High School
Activity: Make a Periodic Table Mark as Favorite (28 Favorites)
In this activity students use imaginary elements to create a periodic table based on the known properties of those elements.
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Molecular Formula, Ionic Bonding, Covalent Bonding, Molecular Geometry, Naming Compounds, Lewis Structures, Periodic Table, Valence Electrons, Lewis Dot Diagrams, Ions, Subatomic Particles | High School, Middle School
Activity: Simulation Activity: Ionic and Covalent Bonding Mark as Favorite (130 Favorites)
In this simulation, students investigate both ionic and covalent bonding. Students will have the opportunity to interact with many possible combinations of atoms and will be tasked with determining the type of bond and the number of atom needed to form each. The simulation visually differentiates between the transferring of electrons when forming an ionic compound and the sharing of electrons when forming a covalent compound so that students can have a complete understanding of each. Finally, students will become familiar with the molecular formula, as well as the naming system for each type of bond and geometric shape, when applicable.
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Molecular Structure , Molecular Structure, Molecular Formula, Naming Compounds, Chemical Bond, Interdisciplinary, Introduction | Middle School, High School
Activity: Modeling Carbohydrates Mark as Favorite (17 Favorites)
In this activity, students will identify that organic compounds contain carbon and other elements such as hydrogen and oxygen. They will investigate the structure of different organic and inorganic compounds and model several molecules, including a carbohydrate molecule. They will use their models to help understand how larger molecules are broken down into smaller molecules.
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Conservation of Mass, Balancing Equations, Limiting Reactant, Introduction, Conservation of Mass | Middle School, High School
Activity: Kinesthetic Reactions Mark as Favorite (5 Favorites)
In this lesson students, through their physical movement, will model the law of conservation of mass during a chemical reaction. Students will also explore the concepts of limiting and excess reactants as well as balancing a chemical equation. Through this activity they also develop a means of representing particles at the molecular level.
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Elements, Review | Middle School
Activity: Chemistry Pyramids Mark as Favorite (7 Favorites)
In this activity, students will use the periodic table, combined with math and logic to solve several chemistry themed pyramid puzzles. In a traditional pyramid puzzle, there is a relationship between the numbers, which is used to determine the missing numbers. In all of these chemistry pyramids, each element symbol is determined by the sum of the two atomic numbers of the elements directly below it. Students are challenged with determining the missing element symbols in each puzzle, but first must use a periodic table to find the atomic number for each element symbol appearing in the puzzle. This activity is a fun challenge for students and provides the opportunity to strengthen logic and reasoning skills.
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Periodic Table, Elements, Atomic Mass, Subatomic Particles | Middle School, High School
Activity: Periodic Table Connect The Dots Mark as Favorite (144 Favorites)
In this activity, students solve a series of clues about elements in order to uncover a message that has been hidden in the periodic table. Using the clues, students draw lines between identified elements on the table, which then connect to form the message. Two versions of this activity are available, varying the difficulty level of the clues.
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Dimensional Analysis, Measurements, Review | Middle School, High School
Activity: Dimensional Analysis Show Down Mark as Favorite (99 Favorites)
In this activity students will work cooperatively to solve conversion based problems using dimensional analysis. Students are required to independently determine an answer for each question and be able explain their method of solving with their peers. This activity is designed to allow students to work at their own pace, and for students to take on a teaching role by communicating their understanding with their peers.
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Model of the Atom, Subatomic Particles, Atomic Mass, Valence Electrons, Atoms, Periodic Table, Elements | Middle School, High School
Activity: Mystery Elements Mark as Favorite (79 Favorites)
The students will work in cooperative groups to construct Bohr models of "mystery" elements and record missing information about each element. Students will also create a new "mystery" element card for a classmate to analyze and determine its identity.
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Separating Mixtures, Mixtures, Physical Properties, Distillation | Middle School, High School
Activity: Animation Activity: Separating Mixtures Mark as Favorite (19 Favorites)
In this activity, students will view an animation that explores different ways of separating a variety of mixtures. The separation techniques addressed in this animation include filtration, evaporation, distillation, and chromatography (focusing on paper chromatography). Real-world applications as well as particle diagrams of the separation processes are included.
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Model of the Atom, Periodic Table, Elements, Atomic Mass, Electrons, Atoms | Middle School
Activity: Augmented Reality and the Atomic Model Mark as Favorite (1 Favorite)
In this project, students will first work with a partner to select a common element from the periodic table to research. They will create a video using iPods to present their research and they will access the Aurasma app on iPods to upload their video. Students will create a trigger image using a picture of the element from the periodic table. Secondly, the students will use the Aurasma App to scan a different element’s trigger image and will use information from another group’s video to construct a model that replicates the atomic structure for the selected element.
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Inferences, Observations, Scientific Method | Middle School, High School
Activity: Black Box Mark as Favorite (4 Favorites)
In this activity, students will experience how scientists carry out a scientific investigation through inquiry.
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Introduction, Observations, Interdisciplinary, Scientific Method | Middle School, High School
Activity: Engineering Project Mark as Favorite (5 Favorites)
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, 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 (3 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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Elements, Model of the Atom, Periodic Table, Introduction, Atoms, Electrons | Middle School, High School
Activity: Periodic Puzzler Mark as Favorite (9 Favorites)
In this activity, students will learn about what makes up an atom and how important protons are in the placement of elements on the periodic table.
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Atoms, Subatomic Particles, Isotopes, Atomic Theory, History, Elements | Middle School, High School
Activity: Atomic Structure RAFT Mark as Favorite (34 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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Density, Observations, Inferences | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Activity: Animation Activity: Density Mark as Favorite (5 Favorites)
In this activity, students will view an animation that explores density on the particulate level. There are opportunities to make qualitative and quantitative comparisons between substances.
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Distillation, Physical Change, Separating Mixtures, Phase Changes | Middle School
Activity: Distillation in Survival Mode Mark as Favorite (11 Favorites)
In this activity, students will investigate methods for purifying water as they consider a survival based situation that requires clean drinking water. Students will investigate processes such as boiling and distillation, as well as review the phase changes within the water cycle.
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Matter, Elements, Mixtures | Middle School, High School
Activity: Animation Activity: Classifying Matter Mark as Favorite (39 Favorites)
In this activity, students will view an animation that explores definitions and examples of several broad classifications of matter, including pure substances (elements and compounds) and mixtures (homogeneous and heterogeneous). Students will see real-life examples as well as particle diagrams.
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Electromagnetic Spectrum, Interdisciplinary | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Activity: Animation Activity: Electromagnetic Spectrum Mark as Favorite (41 Favorites)
In this activity, students will view an animation that explores the electromagnetic spectrum, with a focus on the visible spectrum. The animation addresses the relationship between color, wavelength, frequency, and energy of light waves, as well as how an object absorbs and reflects certain wavelengths of light to contribute to the color we perceive.
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Measurements, SI Units, Mole Concept, Physical Properties, Density | Middle School, High School
Activity: Animation Activity: Units of Chemistry Mark as Favorite (18 Favorites)
In this activity, students will view an animation that explores the importance of including units to communicate the value of measurements effectively. The animation presents definitions, units of measurement, and measuring tools for physical properties that are commonly measured or calculated in chemistry class: mass, length, temperature, volume, amount (moles), and density.
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Physical Properties, Physical Change, Observations, Identifying an Unknown, Lab Safety, Molecules & Bonding, Covalent Bonding, Ionic Bonding, Intermolecular Forces, Molecular Motion, Solutions, Conductivity, States of Matter, Melting Point, Intermolecular Forces, Molecular Motion | High School
Activity: Animation Activity: Physical Properties and Particle Interaction Mark as Favorite (15 Favorites)
In this activity, students will view an animation that explores the relationship between physical properties and particle-level interactions. Particle diagrams of common household substances are used to illustrate that forces of attraction influence melting points. Similarly, particle diagrams of the same substances dissolved in water are used to compare their conductivity in solution.
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Atomic Radius, Atoms, Ionic Radius, Subatomic Particles, Periodic Table | High School
Activity: Animation Activity: Atomic & Ionic Radii Mark as Favorite (14 Favorites)
In this activity, students will view an animation that explores atomic and ionic radii. They will look at the different sizes of atoms in the third period and the atoms in the sixth group to see trends across periods and down groups. They will also look at an atom and its corresponding cation as well as an atom and its corresponding anion.
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Limiting Reactant, Stoichiometry, Balancing Equations, Conservation of Mass, Conservation of Matter, Combustion, Conservation of Mass, Conservation of Matter | High School
Activity: Animation Activity: Limiting Reactant Mark as Favorite (9 Favorites)
In this activity, students will view an animation that explores what happens in a limiting reactant problem on the particulate level. Assembling a bike is used as an analogy to introduce the concept of limiting reactant, and then the balanced equation of the combustion of methane is used in four quantitative examples to show what it means for a chemical to be a limiting reactant. The concept of the conservation of mass is also demonstrated by calculating masses from the mole quantities of the reactants and products.