Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics

126 – 150 of 164 Classroom Resources

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  Chemical Change, Observations, Inferences, Chemical Change, Interdisciplinary | Elementary School

  Lesson Plan: Strawberry DNA & CSI

  In this lesson, students will extract DNA from strawberries and analyze evidence to figure out who perpetrated a petty crime.

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  Density, Observations, Interdisciplinary, Scientific Method | Middle School, Elementary School

  Lab: Crush's Dilemma

  In this lab, students explore the concept of density. They will examine the density of a plastic sandwich bag compared to water. Students will create their own experiment and investigate factors that affect floating and sinking.

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

  Lab: Periodic Table Trends

  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.

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

  Lab: Corrosion in Motion

  In this lab, students will expose metal samples to various solutions and observe the amount of corrosion of a period of time.

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  Exothermic & Endothermic, Physical Change, Heat, Temperature, Observations, Intermolecular Forces, Solute & Solvent, Saturated/Unsaturated/Supersaturated | High School, Middle School

  Lesson Plan: Particle Modeling of Hand Warmers

  In this lesson, students will create a particulate model of matter that explains energy changes and transfer during a physical process, such as the crystallization of a solid from a supersaturated solution.

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  Pharmaceuticals, Functional Groups, Identifying an Unknown, Chemical Properties, Observations | High School

  Lab: Over the Counter Drugs

  In this lab, students will do some research about common over the counter drugs and then carry out some chemical tests to learn more about their composition. They will then identify an unknown drug sample.

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  Conservation of Mass, Chemical Change, Chemical Change, Observations | High School, Middle School

  Lab: Conservation of Mass

  In this lab, students perform three simple experiments, recording the mass of a substance before and after a reaction. They then explain how the law of conservation of mass was not violated, even if the mass changed.

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  Phase Changes, Physical Change, Observations, Temperature | Elementary School, Middle School

  Lab: Condensation

  In this lab, students will explore the process of condensation. Students will investigate how water vapor condenses, and then they will conduct a comparison test to see if cooling water vapor has an effect on the rate of condensation.

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  Observations, Mixtures, Density, Physical Properties, Mixtures | Elementary School

  Activity: Color-Works in a Jar

  Students will be using three ingredients to create a liquid color-works mixture in a jar. This is a fun chemistry project to do with young elementary students around the 4th of July or New Year’s Eve to get the children excited about fireworks.

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

  Demonstration: Comparing Gas Density

  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.

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  Observations | Middle School, Elementary School, High School

  Activity: Compare and Contrast

  In this activity, students will use their observation skills to compare and contrast two similar chemistry classroom scenes in order to identify the differences between the two.

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  Classification of Reactions, Balancing Equations, Chemical Change, Conservation of Mass, Observations | High School

  Lab: Classifying Reaction Types

  In this lab, students will carry out seven reactions and classify their reaction types. They will make observations, predict products, and balance the equations that represent the chemical reactions that are occurring.

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  Density, Observations, Inferences, Measurements, Identifying an Unknown, Error Analysis, Scientific Method | High School

  Lab: Colors of the Rainbow

  In this lab, students will practice density calculations and put their calculations to test by creating their own density column.

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  Chemical Change, Observations, Chemical Change, Reaction Rate, Interdisciplinary, Physical Change, Reaction Rate | Middle School

  Lab: Chemical Weathering in Geology

  In this lab, students will explore the differences between erosion, weathering and chemical weathering. They will complete a lab experiment that simulates chemical weathering on 4 different types of rocks. They will also learn how to use the Mohs Hardness Test to analyze the results.

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  Chemical Change, Chemical Change, Observations, Interdisciplinary, Acid, Acid Rain | Elementary School

  Lab: Chemical Weathering of Rocks

  In this lab, students will explore simulated reactions that contribute to chemical weathering of certain rocks as it appears in nature.  They will compare the effects of two different chemicals as it contacts various rock and mineral samples.

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  Balancing Equations, Chemical Change, Observations | High School, Middle School

  Lab: Chemical Reactions & Equations

  In this lesson, students will observe a series of reactions, make observations, and then write balanced chemical equations to chemically describe what they observed.

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

  Activity: Check Activity

  In this activity, students develop a theory based on evidence they collect from (fake) cancelled checks to come up with a story of how they are related.

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  Indicators, Chemical Properties, Observations, Acid Base Reactions | Elementary School

  Lab: Can a Cabbage Distinguish an Acid from a Base?

  In this lab, students will first determine what colors the cabbage indicator turns in acidic, neutral, and basic solutions.

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  Chemical Change, Physical Change, Observations, Chemical Change, Interdisciplinary, Acid, Chemical Change | Middle School

  Lab: Break It Down!

  In this lab, students will examine the physical and chemical changes that take place within a landfill by composting leftover fruits and vegetables from their lunches. They will also record pH and temperature measurements during the process.

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  Reversible Reactions, Observations, Chemical Change, Physical Change | High School

  Lab: Breath Test

  In this lab, students investigate whether chemical reactions can happen only in one direction, or whether they can be "undone."

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  Polymers, Physical Properties, Introduction, Observations | Elementary School

  Activity: Bouncy Ball

  In this activity, students explore the chemical reaction between borax and glue, creating a polymer ball. The properties of the polymer ball will be analyzed and compared to a store bought bouncy ball.

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  Inferences, Observations, Scientific Method | Middle School, High School

  Activity: Black Box

  In this activity, students will experience how scientists carry out a scientific investigation through inquiry.

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  Chemical Change, Classification of Reactions, Oxidation, Reduction, Redox Reaction, Electrons, Electron Transfer, Ions, Observations, Inferences, Chemical Change | Middle School

  Lesson Plan: One Tube Reaction

  In this lesson, students will observe a chemical change involving oxidation and reduction.

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  Mixtures, Chemical Change, Physical Change, Observations, Density, Acid Base Reactions, Chemical Change, Mixtures | Elementary School

  Lab: Analyzing a Lava Lamp

  In this lab, students create a mixture of oil, water and food coloring, and then add an Alka-Seltzer tablet, to create a homemade lava lamp. Student will record their observations during each step of the process and answer follow-up questions about the chemical and physical changes that took place.

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  Physical Change, Chemical Change, Solute & Solvent, Observations, Inferences, Physical Change, Identifying an Unknown | Elementary School

  Lesson Plan: Alien Invasion?

  In this lesson, students will explore both physical and chemical changes as they try to help the Department of Homeland Security analyze and identify materials found in a mysterious capsule. Students will examine and observe an unknown object (a frozen water balloon) as it changes (melts). They then mix combinations of everyday substances to observe chemical changes.