Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics
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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 (13 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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Physical Properties, Molecular Structure, Polarity | High School, Middle School
Activity: What Makes Water So Special? Mark as Favorite (56 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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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 (1 Favorite)
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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Freezing Point, Solubility, Solute & Solvent, Phase Changes, Freezing Point Depression, Physical Change, Physical Properties | Elementary School, Middle School
Lesson Plan: Salting Roads in Winter Mark as Favorite (3 Favorites)
In this lesson, students investigate how the freezing point of water changes when salt is added. Many students know that water freezes at 0°C, and many believe that all substances freeze at 0°C. The investigations in this lesson help students understand why salt is spread on roads in cold and snowy conditions.
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Physical Properties, Covalent Bonding, Electronegativity, Polarity, Molecular Geometry, Intermolecular Forces, Solubility | Middle School, High School
Activity: The Chemistry of Water Video Questions Mark as Favorite (48 Favorites)
In this activity, students will watch a video and answer questions about how the molecular geometry and polarity of water give rise to many of its unusual physical properties, including its relatively high boiling point and its ability to dissolve some substances but not others.
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Periodic Table, Introduction, History, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Electrons, Valence Electrons | Middle School, High School
Activity: How the Periodic Table Organizes the Elements Video Questions Mark as Favorite (79 Favorites)
In this activity, students will watch a video and answer questions about the organization of the periodic table. They will learn about how the elements on the periodic table are organized and what their location on the table can tell us about them.
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Density, Error Analysis, Accuracy, Identifying an Unknown, Physical Properties, Accuracy, Error Analysis, Measurements, Significant Figures | High School, Middle School
Lab: Determining the Density of Liquids and Solids Mark as Favorite (39 Favorites)
In this lab, students will experimentally determine the density of several liquids and solids from mass and volume measurements. They will then identify an unknown metal by comparing its density to that of known metals and calculate the percent error within the class for a specific sample.
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Observations, Physical Properties, Interdisciplinary | Middle School
Lesson Plan: Fashionable Chemistry Mark as Favorite (1 Favorite)
In this lesson, students will explore the characteristics of different types of natural and synthetic fabrics. Students will learn how synthetic fabrics are made and review the chemical formulas for various fabrics. Finally, students will demonstrate their knowledge by holding a chemistry fashion show.
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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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Density, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Physical Change, Chemical Change, Graphing, Alloys | Middle School, High School
Lesson Plan: The Captivating Chemistry of Coins Mark as Favorite (3 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will develop a better understanding of physical and chemical properties of matter by comparing the composition of different pennies. This is done by determining the density of different pennies which will be compared to the density of different metals.
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Physical Properties, Molecular Structure, Intermolecular Forces | Middle School, High School
Lesson Plan: Structure Matters Mark as Favorite (8 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will explore the atomic level structure of various elements and compounds to determine how arrangement of atoms at the microscopic level affects macroscopic material properties.
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Lab Safety, Chemical Properties, Physical Properties | Middle School, High School
Lesson Plan: Lab Safety and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) Mark as Favorite (5 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will identify various safe lab practices with a focus on the importance of labeling and knowing the background safety information for all reagents used in a lab. Students will design a series of tests to determine the identity of an unknown substance using properties found on safety data sheets.
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Density, Identifying an Unknown, Physical Properties | Middle School, High School
Lesson Plan: The Shattered Glass Mystery Mark as Favorite (22 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will take on the role of a Forensic Scientist to help solve a hit and run investigation. They will learn how physical properties of matter, such as density and refractive index, can be used to help identify evidence samples such as glass.
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Chemical Change, Observations, Exothermic & Endothermic, Temperature, Chemical Change, Physical Change, Physical Properties | High School, Middle School
Lab: Observing a Chemical Reaction Mark as Favorite (25 Favorites)
In this lab, students will practice making careful observations and measurements while witnessing a chemical change.
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Periodic Table, History, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Atoms, Model of the Atom, Atomic Radius, Subatomic Particles, Electrons, Valence Electrons, Electron Configuration, Orbitals , Isotopes, Atomic Mass | High School, Middle School
Activity: Ptable.com Investigations Mark as Favorite (161 Favorites)
In this activity, students will use the online periodic table found at www.ptable.com to investigate a number of chemistry concepts. Students will use this online resource to explore information about the elements, including historical data, physical properties, periodic trends and more.
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Review, Physical Properties, Density, Periodic Table, Mixtures | Middle School, High School
Activity: Chemistry Basics: Advanced Crossword Puzzle Mark as Favorite (19 Favorites)
In this activity, students will complete a crossword puzzle by solving each clue that is related to a fundamental chemistry topic.
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Concentration, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, pH | Middle School
Activity: Would You Drink it? Mark as Favorite (26 Favorites)
In this activity, students are provided with data regarding the water quality at multiple locations throughout a city. Students will determine which location should be prioritized for cleaning of contaminates. Students will utilize Claim Evidence and Reasoning (CER) to develop a claim that is supported by the data provided.
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Measurements, Dimensional Analysis, Chemical Properties, Physical Properties, Chemical Change, Physical Change, Matter, Observations, Mixtures | Middle School, High School
Activity: Cupcake Conversions, Bench to Bakery Mark as Favorite (53 Favorites)
This activity will help to reinforce the importance of scientific measurement and apply it to the introduction of chemical reactions. Using an example of baking a single batch of cupcakes, students will plan for a larger production scale in a commercial bakery. This will help to introduce the idea of producing a reaction at the lab bench and converting it to mass production. In addition this activity investigates how chemistry is used in everyday life and challenges students to consider potentials errors that may occur when completing chemical reactions in the kitchen.
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History, Physical Properties, Matter, Observations | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Activity: Ancient Chemistry Video Questions Mark as Favorite (25 Favorites)
In this activity, students will watch a video about the history of chemistry. They will answer questions while learning about the history of chemistry, starting with the discovery of fire, progressing through the various metal ages, and be introduced to the great philosophers.
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Periodic Table, History, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Subatomic Particles, Atomic Mass | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Activity: History of the Periodic Table Video Questions Mark as Favorite (46 Favorites)
In this activity, students will answer questions while watching a video about how the periodic table was developed and learn about those who contributed to it.
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Temperature, History, Physical Properties, Measurements, SI Units, Accuracy | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Activity: Temperature Guys Video Questions Mark as Favorite (37 Favorites)
In this activity, students will watch a video and answer questions about how both the thermometer and the concept of temperature evolved over time
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Periodic Table, History, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Atomic Mass, Atomic Theory, Model of the Atom, Subatomic Particles | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Activity: Mendeleev Video Questions Mark as Favorite (36 Favorites)
In this activity, students will watch a video and answer questions about Dimitri Mendeleev. They will learn about his contribution to chemistry, including his organization of the periodic table and awareness to leave gaps for elements that weren’t yet discovered.
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Separating Mixtures, Mixtures, Physical Properties, Distillation | Middle School, High School
Activity: Animation Activity: Separating Mixtures Mark as Favorite (14 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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Polymers, Phase Changes, Physical Properties | Middle School
Lab: Changing a Monomer to a Polymer! Mark as Favorite (7 Favorites)
In this lab, students will have the opportunity to see the complexity of the different phases of matter. This lab will allow students to investigate polymers and physical properties, while connecting these concepts to the phases of matter. Students will also better understand that some substances are not easily identified as a particular phase of matter and that some substances can have characteristics of more than one phase of matter.
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Polarity, Mixtures, Intermolecular Forces, Intermolecular Forces, Physical Properties, Observations, Mixtures | Middle School, Elementary School, High School
Lab: Salad Dressing Science: Emulsions Mark as Favorite (29 Favorites)
In this lab, students mix polar and nonpolar substances and then add various emulsifiers to encourage the mixing of the two substances. They use ingredients in salad dressing to relate science to real life scenarios.