Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics
1 – 25 of 311 Classroom Resources
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Mixtures, Acid Rain, Interdisciplinary, Chemical Properties | Elementary School, Middle School
Lesson Plan: Environmental Problems Mark as Favorite (10 Favorites)
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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Chemical Change, Observations, Chemical Change, Reaction Rate, Interdisciplinary, Physical Change, Reaction Rate | Middle School
Lab: Chemical Weathering in Geology Mark as Favorite (4 Favorites)
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, Acid Base Reactions, Observations | Middle School, High School
Lab: How do Sinkholes Form? Mark as Favorite (46 Favorites)
In this lab students will learn how acidic groundwater reacts with limestone, causing it to erode. Sinkholes form when eroded limestone underneath the surface of the earth can no longer support the ground above it. Students will test how acid reacts with a variety of rocks and determine which rocks would be best to build a city on top of in order to reduce the chance of sinkholes forming.
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Chemical Change, Chemical Change, Observations | High School, Middle School
Lab: Corrosion in Motion Mark as Favorite (8 Favorites)
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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Solubility, Observations, Concentration, Intermolecular Forces | Elementary School, Middle School
Activity: Paper Flower Blossoms Mark as Favorite (5 Favorites)
In this activity, students will investigate solubility by using a combination of washable markers and permanent ink to color a paper flower. The petals of the flower will be folded, and then placed in a shallow dish of water. Students will be intrigued by the outcome as they observe several changes occur. Using their knowledge of several fundamental chemistry topics, student will explain their observations using evidence and modeling.
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Polarity, Intermolecular Forces, Intermolecular Forces, Physical Change, Matter | Middle School
Lesson Plan: Sandy Beaches—A Foray into ‘Magic’ Sand Mark as Favorite (6 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will investigate the properties of magic sand and learn about the concept of hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecules. It also introduces students to the field of nanotechnology.
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Mixtures, Physical Properties, Molecular Structure, Mixtures | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Demonstration: Analyzing Mixtures Mark as Favorite (40 Favorites)
In this demonstration, the teacher will create a sequence of mixtures in a single test tube. Water, oil, food coloring and soap will be used in this demonstration to introduce the concepts of heterogeneous and homogeneous solutions as well as the idea of miscibility. Students will also have the opportunity to analyze the properties, such as surface tension of each component used.
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Density, Density, Chemical Change, Observations, Inferences | High School, Middle School
Demonstration: Comparing Gas Density Mark as Favorite (8 Favorites)
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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Radioactive Isotopes, Radiation, Half Lives, History | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: Marie Curie Video Mark as Favorite (31 Favorites)
This video tells the story about Marie Curie, including her Nobel Prizes, radiation experiments, and discovery of new elements. Irene Curie is also mentioned.
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Concentration, Mixtures, Interdisciplinary, Scientific Method, Measurements | Middle School, High School
Lab: Effect of Salt Concentration on Plants Mark as Favorite (12 Favorites)
In this lab, students will observe how salt concentration can affect the structure of a potato tuber.
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Separating Mixtures, Interdisciplinary, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Mixtures, Mixtures | Middle School
Lab: Candy and Leaf Chromatography Mark as Favorite (18 Favorites)
In this lab, students will learn that mixtures are created by the combination of two or more substances. Many colors are actually mixtures of several different pigments. Mixtures can be separated, and in this lab students will perform chromatography to separate mixtures found in candy and in leaves.
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Photosynthesis, Interdisciplinary | Elementary School, Middle School
Lesson Plan: Investigating Photosynthesis Mark as Favorite (1 Favorite)
In this lesson, students will build knowledge through reading an assigned passage, as well as analyze evidence produced from a teacher led demonstration to better understand the process of photosynthesis.
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Physical Properties, Density, Separating Mixtures, Matter, Culminating Project, Interdisciplinary, Phase Changes | Elementary School, Middle School
Activity: The Castaway! Mark as Favorite (16 Favorites)
In this activity, students use their knowledge of the properties of matter to create and/or design items needed for survival on a deserted island.
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Density, Density, Chemical Change, Observations, Chemical Change, Combustion | Elementary School, Middle School
Demonstration: Investigating Gas Density Mark as Favorite (8 Favorites)
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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Lab Safety, Experimental Design, Introduction | Middle School, High School
Activity: Lab Equipment Card Sort & Scavenger Hunt Mark as Favorite (10 Favorites)
In this activity, students will match clues to the glassware, tool, or equipment that is best designed to be used in the described manner. They will also identify the selected items by name.
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Introduction, Elements, Periodic Table, Density, Lab Safety, Atomic Mass, Subatomic Particles, Scientific Notation, Dimensional Analysis, Measurements, Significant Figures | Middle School, High School
Game: Escape Room: Chemistry Basics Mark as Favorite (31 Favorites)
In this game, students will solve a series of six escape room-style puzzles using their knowledge of various fundamental chemistry concepts, including elements and atomic structure, the periodic table, scientific notation, measurements, unit conversions, significant figures, density, and lab safety.
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Introduction, Elements, Periodic Table, Density, Lab Safety, Atomic Mass, Subatomic Particles, Scientific Notation, Dimensional Analysis, Significant Figures, Measurements | Middle School, High School
Activity: Game Activity: Escape Room: Chemistry Basics Mark as Favorite (32 Favorites)
In this game, students will solve a series of six escape room-style puzzles using their knowledge of various fundamental chemistry concepts, including elements and atomic structure, the periodic table, scientific notation, measurements, unit conversions, significant figures, density, and lab safety. In this activity, students will apply the chemical concepts used in the game to additional practice problems.
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Periodic Table, Elements, Percent Composition | Middle School
Activity: The Universe of Elements Mark as Favorite (18 Favorites)
In this activity, students are introduced to the periodic table and its elements. Student will discuss that all material in the Universe is composed of elements and that the atom is the smallest particle that still has the physical and chemical properties of any given element. Students will engage in an activity to determine the percent composition of common elements in the universe, and based on their results they will hypothesize the identity of each element based on its relative abundance.
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Polymers, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Physical Change, Chemical Change, Observations, Scientific Method, Mixtures | Middle School
Lesson Plan: Exploring the Chemistry of Oil and Acrylic Paints Mark as Favorite (16 Favorites)
In this lesson students learn about the chemistry of oil and acrylic paints. They make their own paint, and complete an experiment to collect qualitative and quantitative data through a series of tests. Students will also apply the concepts of physical and chemical change to the results of this controlled experiment.
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Lab Safety, Culminating Project, Interdisciplinary | High School, Middle School
Activity: Dangerous Goods Specialist Mark as Favorite (41 Favorites)
In this activity, students will take on the role of a Dangerous Goods Specialist for a large chemical company. In this role, students will research a specific commercially available industrial chemical looking at both the properties of the compound as well as how can they safely ship the chemical to a buyer in a cost effective and timely manner.
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Physical Properties, Molecular Structure, Polarity | High School, Middle School
Activity: What Makes Water So Special? Mark as Favorite (69 Favorites)
In this activity, students will become familiar with the special properties of water by completing several activities that investigate the following physical properties/phenomena: cohesion, adhesion, surface tension, and capillary action.
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Elements, Periodic Table, Polyatomic Ions | Middle School, High School
Game: Guess What: Compounds Mark as Favorite (17 Favorites)
In this game, students will use their knowledge of the different types of elements and the compounds they can form to guess the computer opponent’s secret compound before the computer can identify their compound.
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Elements, Periodic Table, Polyatomic Ions, Covalent Bonding, Ionic Bonding, Molecular Formula | Middle School, High School
Activity: Game Activity: Guess What: Compounds Mark as Favorite (17 Favorites)
In this game, students will use their knowledge of the different types of elements and the compounds they can form to guess the computer opponent’s secret compound before the computer can identify their compound. Students will take turns with the computer asking and answering yes or no questions about their secret compounds, selected from a pool of 20 compounds, to try to narrow down the pool to identify the computer’s compound first. This activity encourages students to reflect on different ways matter can be classified.
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Phase Changes, Boiling Point, Melting Point, Physical Properties, Freezing Point, Molecular Motion, Physical Change, Density, Heat, Temperature | Elementary School, Middle School
Lesson Plan: Investigating Water's States of Matter Mark as Favorite (2 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will identify properties of different states of matter and then work in groups to model the molecular arrangement in water as a solid, liquid, and gas. This lesson will also help students understand that the change in state is a physical change and how the solid state of water has unique properties.
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Electricity, Galvanic Cells, Graphing | Middle School, High School
Lab: Comparing Batteries Made from Different Citrus Fruits Mark as Favorite (2 Favorites)
In this lab students will explore and compare how different citrus fruits can be used to make batteries. Student lab groups will collect the voltage data for batteries made from limes, lemons, oranges, and grapefruit, then determine if there is a difference in the voltage they can produce.