Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics
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Periodic Table, Elements, Percent Composition | Middle School
Activity: The Universe of Elements Mark as Favorite (15 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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Elements, Periodic Table, Polyatomic Ions | Middle School, High School
Game: Guess What: Compounds Mark as Favorite (6 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 (0 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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Isotopes, Atoms, Electrons, Subatomic Particles, Elements, History, Introduction, Review, Alpha/Beta/Gamma Decay, Radioactive Isotopes | Middle School, High School
Activity: What are Isotopes? Video Questions Mark as Favorite (62 Favorites)
In this activity, students will watch a video and answer questions about isotopes. They will learn about the discovery of isotopes, the difference between chemical and nuclear reactions, different kinds of radioactive decay, and some uses of radioactive isotopes.
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Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Elements, Alloys, Chemical Bond | Middle School
Lesson Plan: Behind the Metal Mark as Favorite (4 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about the properties of metals. The students will work in small groups to create a video to anthropomorphize their selected metal as though it were a heavy metal musician and share the video with their peers.
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Model of the Atom, Atoms, Subatomic Particles, Electrons, Atomic Mass, Isotopes, Periodic Table, Elements | Middle School, High School
Lesson Plan: Acting Out Atomic Structure Mark as Favorite (1 Favorite)
In this lesson, students will model the location and behavior of protons, neutrons, and electrons that make up the structure of atoms, focusing on the first 18 elements on the periodic table. Students will model different elements first by adding protons and neutrons (colored balls) to make the nucleus (a basket). Then, the students themselves will represent the electrons that are always moving around the nucleus yet remaining within their designated energy level. This activity is easiest to complete outside or in a large open room to allow for enough room.
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Periodic Table, Elements | Elementary School, Middle School
Lesson Plan: Identify Your Elements Mark as Favorite (2 Favorites)
In this lesson, students observe the teacher using a set of Russian Nesting Dolls to create analogies between structure and shape of the periodic table. Students are taught to navigate the periodic table, identify specific elements by atomic number, analyze several element samples, and determine the identity of a mystery material.
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Periodic Table, Elements | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Activity: The Periodic Table: Put Your Love to the Test! Mark as Favorite (27 Favorites)
In this activity, students will be challenged to see how familiar they are will the element names on the periodic table. Students will examine a heart-shaped word search, following the rules of the assigned difficulty level (beginner, intermediate, or advanced) in order to identify as many element names as possible.
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Periodic Table, Elements | Middle School, High School
Activity: Lucky Seven Mark as Favorite (27 Favorites)
In this activity, students will use the periodic table and the clues provided to identify element names. Students will then attempt to find the element names that are hidden n the puzzle.
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Periodic Table, Elements, History | Middle School, High School
Activity: The Disappearing Spoon Reading Questions Mark as Favorite (49 Favorites)
In this activity, students will read a series of passages from the young readers edition of The Disappearing Spoon that are related to the elements in the AACT video series
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Review, Matter, Density, Physical Change, Chemical Change, Periodic Table, Elements, Mixtures | Elementary School, Middle School
Activity: Chemistry Basics: Crossword Puzzle Mark as Favorite (3 Favorites)
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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Elements, Periodic Table | Middle School, High School
Activity: Chemistry Kakuro Puzzle Mark as Favorite (6 Favorites)
In this activity, students will use both math and logic to solve a chemistry themed kakuro puzzle. This puzzle differs slightly from a traditional kakuro by first requiring students to use a periodic table to find the atomic number for each element symbol appearing in the puzzle. Using the atomic numbers as starting clues, students then fill-in the empty squares with numbers 1-9 that sum to the value of the clue, but without reusing any digits. This activity is a fun challenge for students, and provides the opportunity to strengthen logic and reasoning skills.
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Matter, Mixtures, Elements | Middle School, High School
Activity: Elements, Compounds, & Mixtures - Oh My! Mark as Favorite (85 Favorites)
In this activity, students will define terms related to various kinds of pure substances and mixtures, as well as analyze and draw particle diagrams.
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Elements, Periodic Table | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Activity: Element Matching Puzzle Mark as Favorite (5 Favorites)
In this activity, students will become more familiar with select elements from the periodic table. They will use the periodic table to determine the symbol for given elements, and recall any prior knowledge about each element. Then students will be challenged to solve a puzzle by organizing a set of cards that contain jumbled information about these elements. After all of the cards have been correctly organized, a secret message can be found.
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Periodic Table, Elements | Elementary School, Middle School
Activity: Elemental Mix-up Mark as Favorite (16 Favorites)
In this activity, students will test their knowledge of the periodic table as they attempt to unscramble element names and use select letters to solve a mystery message.
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Periodic Table, Elements, History | Middle School, High School
Activity: The Disappearing Spoon Video Questions Mark as Favorite (61 Favorites)
In this activity, students will watch videos from the AACT original video series, Sam Kean’s Disappearing Spoon. While watching a video, students will answer several questions related to the particular element of focus.
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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 (137 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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Model of the Atom, Subatomic Particles, Atomic Mass, Valence Electrons, Atoms, Periodic Table, Elements | Middle School, High School
Activity: Mystery Elements Mark as Favorite (73 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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Periodic Table, Subatomic Particles, History, Introduction, Elements, Atoms, Valence Electrons, Electrons | Middle School
Project: Elemental Art: A Visual Periodic Table Mark as Favorite (15 Favorites)
In this activity students will research an assigned element of the Periodic Table and then create a poster that visually explains and expresses the element. The final posters can be arranged into a classroom Periodic Table.
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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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Elements, Periodic Table, Interdisciplinary, History, Atoms, Model of the Atom | Middle School, High School
Project: Element Baby Book Mark as Favorite (41 Favorites)
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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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 (2 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 (8 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.