Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics
1 – 22 of 22 Classroom Resources
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Physical Change, Chemical Change, Observations | Elementary School, Middle School
Lab: Comparing Physical and Chemical Changes
In this lab, students will analyze different scenarios in order to determine if a physical or chemical change has occurred. This lab experience will provide students with the opportunity to record observations, as well as improve their ability to differentiate between physical and chemical changes.
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Observations, Mixtures, Chemical Change, Physical Change, Chemical Change, pH | Elementary School
Demonstration: The Chemistry of Cheese
In this demonstration, students will observe the chemical process that occurs when making cheese. Students will be become more familiar with fundamental chemistry terms while making important observations.
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Physical Change, Chemical Change, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Activity: A Physical vs. Chemical Challenge
In this activity, students will first complete a card sort to best categorize examples of change as physical or chemical change. Then they will compete in teams to identify whether given situations represent a physical change or a chemical change, or a physical or a chemical property.
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Review, Matter, Density, Physical Change, Chemical Change, Periodic Table, Elements, Mixtures | Elementary School, Middle School
Activity: Chemistry Basics: Crossword Puzzle
In this activity, students will complete a crossword puzzle by solving each clue that is related to a basic, yet fundamental chemistry topic.
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Chemical Change, Chemical Change, Observations | Elementary School, Middle School
Lab: It's Alive
In this lab, students will practice making and recording observations, analyzing data, and identifying chemical change. They will transfer dirt, germs, and bacteria from their hands onto a piece of white bread and observe the changes that occur during the following days. Students will analyze the results, make comparisons between clean and dirty samples of bread and learn about the importance of hand-cleaning.
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Chemical Change, Chemical Change, Physical Change, Observations, Indicators | Elementary School
Lesson Plan: Explorations of Baking Soda and Vinegar
In this lesson, students complete a series of simple lab experiments to better understand chemical reactions as well as differentiate between chemical change and physical change. Students will also be introduced to the pH scale, and have the opportunity to understand how chemical reactions can be used in real-world scenarios.
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Physical Change, Chemical Change, Matter, Mixtures, Mixtures | Elementary School
Activity: Chemistry in the Kitchen!
In this activity, students will describe the steps required to complete a recipe of their choosing. They will identify any physical and chemical changes that occur throughout the process.
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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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Physical Properties, Physical Change, Chemical Change, Matter, Phase Changes | Elementary School
Activity: Analyzing Root Beer Floats
In this activity students will observe the states of matter while making a root beer float. They will also discover the differences between a solid, a liquid and a gas.
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Chemical Change, Chemical Change | Elementary School
Lab: Teeth Eggsperiment!
In this lab students will observe and analyze how different drinks can stain an egg’s shell. They will then associate the results with how these drinks can stain their teeth.
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Chemical Change, Observations, Chemical Change, Oxidation | Elementary School
Demonstration: 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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Chemical Change, Physical Change, Chemical Change | Middle School, High School, Elementary School
Lab: Chemical and Physical Changes
In this lab, students will observe and analyze a number of examples in order to determine if a chemical or physical change occurred.
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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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Chemical Change, Exothermic & Endothermic, Chemical Change, Physical Change, Separating Mixtures | Elementary School
Lab: Super Suds
In this lab, students will investigate an endothermic chemical reaction by combining baking soda, hand soap and citric acid. The students will be tasked with differentiating between chemical and physical changes during this experiment.
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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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Reaction Rate, Chemical Change, Observations, Chemical Change, Reaction Rate, Catalysts | Elementary School
Lab: To What DEGREE Does it Matter
In this lab the students will explore how factors such as temperature may influence chemical reactions. Students will use citric acid and sodium bicarbonate (Alka-Seltzer) and a catalyst (water) to induce a reaction at varying degrees. Observations will be made of the rate at which the reactions take place under these varying conditions. The students will make predictions of how the temperature of the water will affect the chemical reaction. They will use a stop watch to time the reaction between the Alka-Seltzer and the varying temperatures of water and graph their observations for analysis, they will compare data to deduce whether temperature has any influence during a chemical reaction.
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Density, Density, Chemical Change, Observations, Chemical Change, Combustion | Elementary School, Middle School
Demonstration: Investigating Gas Density
In this demonstration, students will observe a reaction between baking soda and vinegar in the presence of a burning candle. 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 candle to extinguish. Students will analyze the outcome and compare the presence of the gases in the container and make determinations about the densities of each.
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Chemical Change, Density, Chemical Change, Density | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Demonstration: Fire Extinguisher
In this demonstration, students will observe a chemical reaction, and see how the product can be used to extinguish a fire.
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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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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.
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Chemical Change, Chemical Change, Observations, Acid, Chemical Change | Elementary School
Lab: My Pennies
In this lab, students will investigate how an acidic, vinegar based solution can help to get “dirty” pennies clean. Students will observe chemical change and investigate real-world connections to this lab.