Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics
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1 – 25 of 38 Classroom Resources
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Atomic Theory, Model of the Atom, Atoms, Subatomic Particles, Electrons, Orbitals , History, Matter | High School
Lesson Plan: Modeling Atomic Theories with Food Mark as Favorite (34 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will create an initial model of an atom (using various food items) drawing from the knowledge that they brought into the class. They will then use the same materials to work through an interactive note-taking lesson on how the model of the atom evolved over time. Having completed the interactive notes, the students return to their original models and adjust as needed.
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Matter, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Mixtures, Elements, Alloys | High School
Lesson Plan: Observing Properties of Those Marvelous Metals Mark as Favorite (16 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will see how metals, both pure metals and alloys, may have different physical and chemical properties. They will investigate how these properties contribute to their usefulness in manufacturing and construction.
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Chemical Bond, Molecular Structure, Atoms, Elements, Matter, Interdisciplinary, Naming Compounds | Elementary School
Lesson Plan: Modeling Molecules Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
In this lesson, students explore the structure of matter by designing, building, comparing, and evaluating models of a variety of simple molecules.
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Conservation of Matter, Matter, Interdisciplinary, Renewable Energy, Conservation of Matter | Elementary School
Lab: Reuse, Reduce and Recycle! Mark as Favorite (2 Favorites)
In this lab students will explore ways to conserve natural resources. They will then have the opportunity to create their own recycled paper that can be used in the classroom.
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Measurements, Dimensional Analysis, Physical Change, Matter, Mixtures | Middle School, High School
Activity: Cooking with Conversions Mark as Favorite (49 Favorites)
In this activity, students will be given a common homemade recipe for German chocolate cake with measurements in English units. They will be asked to convert the English ingredients list to metric units through scientific calculations. Students will also be asked to identify the ingredients as solid, liquid or gas. While reviewing the cooking procedures, students will classify certain steps as containing compounds or mixtures as well as identify whether chemical or physical changes are taking place. The culinary chemistry involved in this lesson should be introduced throughout the activity.
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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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Physical Properties, Physical Change, Chemical Change, Matter, Phase Changes | Elementary School
Activity: Analyzing Root Beer Floats Mark as Favorite (1 Favorite)
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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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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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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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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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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Matter, Elements, Mixtures | Middle School, High School
Activity: Animation Activity: Classifying Matter Mark as Favorite (32 Favorites)
In this activity, students will view an animation that explores definitions and examples of several broad classifications of matter, including pure substances (elements and compounds) and mixtures (homogeneous and heterogeneous). Students will see real-life examples as well as particle diagrams.
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Matter, Elements, Mixtures | High School, Middle School
Animation: Classifying Matter Animation Mark as Favorite (96 Favorites)
This animation explores definitions and examples of several broad classifications of matter, including pure substances (elements and compounds) and mixtures (homogeneous and heterogeneous). Students will see real-life examples as well as particle diagrams. This animation was featured in the November 2019 issue of Chemistry Solutions. **This video has no audio**
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Atoms, Model of the Atom, Atomic Theory, Matter, Elements, History, Introduction, Periodic Table | Middle School, High School
Animation: Atoms: The Building Blocks of Matter Animation Mark as Favorite (29 Favorites)
This animation explores the idea that everything is made of atoms, and that since atoms are so extremely small, even small objects contain vast numbers of atoms. Students will see several examples to illustrate this point. Then they will be given a brief overview of the evolution of how people thought about atoms from the ancient Greeks through Dalton. This animation was featured in the May 2022 issue of Chemistry Solutions. **This video has no audio**
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Density, Matter, Physical Properties, Measurements | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Animation: Density Animation Mark as Favorite (43 Favorites)
This animation explores density on the particulate level. There are opportunities to make qualitative and quantitative comparisons between substances. **This video has no audio**
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Physical Properties, Observations, Matter | Elementary School
Activity: Describing Physical Properties Mark as Favorite (1 Favorite)
In this activity, students will use their five senses to describe the physical properties of a variety of items. Students will also determine what state of matter the item is, and categorize it accordingly. Students will practice using vocabulary words as they record their observations in a data table.
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Density, Physical Properties, Matter, Observations | Elementary School, Middle School
Lab: Comparing Density of Liquids & Solids Mark as Favorite (5 Favorites)
In this lab, students will measure mass and volume, calculate density, and compare the density of given liquids and solids, inferring what causes objects to sink or float in a given liquid. 3-48
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Physical Properties, Density, Chemical Properties, Matter, Interdisciplinary | Middle School, Elementary School
Activity: Astronaut on a Mission Mark as Favorite (1 Favorite)
In this activity students will take on the role as a NASA employee on a mission to discover what resources humans need in order to survive on a planet outside of our solar system. Students will come up with a plan including a list of materials and resources needed to sustain life on another planet. They will need to compare each planet and determine which is most ready to support life.
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Separating Mixtures, Physical Properties, Observations, Matter, Introduction, Mixtures | Elementary School
Activity: Sandbox! Mark as Favorite (1 Favorite)
In this activity the students will separate a mixture and classify objects by their physical properties.
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Conservation of Matter, Chemical Change, Photosynthesis, Balancing Equations, Reversible Reactions, Molecular Formula, Molecular Structure, Conservation of Mass, Interdisciplinary, Matter, Elements, Monomer | Elementary School
Lesson Plan: Plant Chemistry Mark as Favorite (1 Favorite)
In this lesson, students will explore a simple, but key, biochemical reaction: photosynthesis.
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Physical Properties, Observations, Matter | Elementary School
Activity: Sorting Buttons Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
In this lab, students will investigate observable properties of matter. Students will use their knowledge of physical properties to create and separate mixtures of assorted buttons based on the characteristics of color, shape and number of holes.
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Phase Changes, Physical Properties, Molecular Motion, Introduction, Matter | Elementary School
Lesson Plan: Introducing States of Matter Mark as Favorite (11 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will investigate particle behavior in different forms of matter: solid, liquid and gas. Students will have an opportunity to examine a model of the particles in the different states of matter and will also participate in a kinesthetic demonstration of matter. They will also learn what makes the states of matter different from one another when changing from one form to another.
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Matter, Physical Properties, Observations, Phase Changes | Elementary School
Activity: Matter Can Taste Good! Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
In this activity, students will be introduced to the general differences and organization of particles in each state of matter: solid, liquid and gas. They will have the opportunity to compare the samples and then will identify each state of matter during an edible activity.
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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 (14 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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Periodic Table, Elements, Matter, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Observations, Identifying an Unknown | High School, Middle School
Lab: Periodic Table Trends Mark as Favorite (31 Favorites)
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.