Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics
Filter by:
1 – 25 of 49 Classroom Resources
-
Introduction, Interdisciplinary | High School
Video: Chemistry Lab Technicians Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
Meet Josh, a chemical technician at PPG. Most chemical technician jobs do not require a bachelor’s degree, and they involve more of the hands-on work of “doing science” than many scientist roles. This video shows us the lab where he makes new paint formulations and explains how he arrived at his current occupation. ACS celebrates the crucial role of skilled technicians in research and the chemical industries.
-
Introduction, Interdisciplinary | High School
Activity: Careers in the Skilled Technical Workforce Mark as Favorite (9 Favorites)
In this activity, students will learn about career opportunities in the Skilled Technical Workforce (STW) – jobs that use STEM knowledge but do not require a four-year degree. They will be introduced to various STW jobs through articles, infographics, videos, and career websites, and will have a chance to reflect on their own career goals.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Periodic Table, Identifying an Unknown, Introduction | High School
Activity: Periodic Table of Aliens Mark as Favorite (95 Favorites)
In this activity, students will receive a deck of cards with images of aliens with various physical features that they have to organize into groups and periods following patterns in those features. Two cards are removed from each deck, and after students organize the cards, they can predict (draw) the missing aliens. They then watch a short video about Mendeleev to help them relate their process for organizing their alien cards to how Mendeleev organized the elements of the periodic table and predicted where undiscovered elements would fit.
-
Lab Safety, Introduction, Review | Middle School, High School
Activity: Laboratory Equipment Scramble Mark as Favorite (9 Favorites)
In this activity, students will be challenged to solve a set of scrambled word puzzles. Each scrambled word corresponds to the name of a common piece of chemistry laboratory equipment. After solving each puzzle, students will use designated letters from each word to solve a riddle.
-
Introduction, Lab Safety, Chemical Properties, Physical Properties, Chemical Change, Physical Change, History, Separating Mixtures, Elements, Mixtures, Density, Measurements, SI Units, Significant Figures, Dimensional Analysis, Scientific Notation, Accuracy, Molecular Motion, Phase Changes | High School
Lesson Plan: The Chemistry Basics and Measurement Quick Start Unit Plan Mark as Favorite (64 Favorites)
This Quick Start Unit Plan includes all the materials that a teacher will need for the first 10 class meetings of the school year. Each day is outlined with teacher notes, and includes slide presentations as well as directions for demonstrations, activities and labs to use. The fundamental topics covered in the 10 days of lessons are: laboratory safety, laboratory equipment, experimental design, classification of matter, chemical properties, physical properties, chemical change, physical change, phase changes, separation techniques, dimensional analysis, unit conversions, factor label method, accuracy, precision, significant figures, and percent error calculations. This Quick Start Unit plan aims to help students to build a foundation of understanding, and master important topics before moving deeper into the chemistry curriculum.
-
Phase Changes, Physical Change, Melting Point, Introduction, Observations | Elementary School
Lesson Plan: Let's Get Physical About Water Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about the phase changes of matter. During the course of two days students will perform several short experiments in order to change the state of water and they will record their observations.
-
Lab Safety, Introduction | Middle School, High School
Lesson Plan: ACS Chemical Safety Video: RAMP Mark as Favorite (15 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about a simple yet powerful tool for protecting themselves and their classmates in the lab, RAMP. It stands for: Recognize hazards; Assess risks; Minimize risks and Prepare for emergencies. Using a video, and multiple activities, students will become more knowledgeable and better prepared to assess risks and identify hazards in the lab.
-
Introduction, Lab Safety, Chemical Properties, Physical Properties, Chemical Change, Physical Change, History, Separating Mixtures, Measurements, SI Units, Significant Figures | High School
Lesson Plan: Chemistry Basics Unit Plan Mark as Favorite (109 Favorites)
The AACT High School Classroom Resource library and multimedia collection has everything you need to put together a unit plan for your classroom: lessons, activities, labs, projects, videos, simulations, and animations. We searched through our resource library and constructed a unit plan for introducing the basic chemistry concepts to students: Laboratory Safety, Equipment, and Reports, Periodic Table Basics, Physical and Chemical Properties and Changes, Endothermic and Exothermic Changes, and Classification of Matter. These topics are very important for your students to master before they dig into other chemistry concepts. This unit is designed to be used at beginning of the school year.
-
Periodic Table, Elements, Introduction, Temperature | High School
Activity: An Element Fill-In Puzzle Mark as Favorite (3 Favorites)
In this activity, students will solve a puzzle by using element symbols from the periodic table to fill-in missing letters in familiar chemistry terms related to energy and thermodynamics.
-
Introduction, Interdisciplinary, History, Heat, Renewable Energy, Polymers, Molecular Structure | Middle School, High School
Activity: The Frontiers of Chemistry: Video Questions Mark as Favorite (18 Favorites)
In this activity, students will answer questions while watching a video about several exciting scientific developments, including solar cells, 3D printing and micro machines. This video will help students understand that fundamental chemistry concepts are essential to the advancement of science and technology.
-
Periodic Table, Introduction, Elements, Identifying an Unknown | High School
Activity: Make a Periodic Table Mark as Favorite (24 Favorites)
In this activity students use imaginary elements to create a periodic table based on the known properties of those elements.
-
Molecular Structure , Molecular Structure, Molecular Formula, Naming Compounds, Chemical Bond, Interdisciplinary, Introduction | Middle School, High School
Activity: Modeling Carbohydrates Mark as Favorite (17 Favorites)
In this activity, students will identify that organic compounds contain carbon and other elements such as hydrogen and oxygen. They will investigate the structure of different organic and inorganic compounds and model several molecules, including a carbohydrate molecule. They will use their models to help understand how larger molecules are broken down into smaller molecules.
-
Conservation of Mass, Balancing Equations, Limiting Reactant, Introduction, Conservation of Mass | Middle School, High School
Activity: Kinesthetic Reactions Mark as Favorite (5 Favorites)
In this lesson students, through their physical movement, will model the law of conservation of mass during a chemical reaction. Students will also explore the concepts of limiting and excess reactants as well as balancing a chemical equation. Through this activity they also develop a means of representing particles at the molecular level.
-
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.
-
Introduction, Observations, Interdisciplinary, Scientific Method | Middle School, High School
Activity: Engineering Project Mark as Favorite (4 Favorites)
In this activity, students work together in a small team in order to solve a problem and achieve a common goal. Students will need to work collaboratively in order to be successful. They will be required to communicate their ideas both verbally and in written form, assign duties, design and carry out a procedure in this activity. They will also be challenged with problem solving when/if their original plan fails.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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**
-
Introduction, History, Periodic Table, Elements, Observations, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties | High School
Lesson Plan: What is Chemistry? Mark as Favorite (24 Favorites)
In this lesson, students watch a video narrated by Bill Nye, and then complete a SOMA cube to enhance their perspective in the process of discovery.
-
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.
-
Observations, Density, Physical Properties, Introduction | Elementary School
Activity: Sink or Float Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
In this activity, students investigate whether certain materials will sink or float in water. Students will also explore how the shape of an object can affect its volume and density.
-
Polymers, Physical Properties, Introduction, Observations | Elementary School
Activity: Bouncy Ball Mark as Favorite (4 Favorites)
In this activity, students explore the chemical reaction between borax and glue, creating a polymer ball. The properties of the polymer ball will be analyzed and compared to a store bought bouncy ball.
-
Mixtures, Solute & Solvent, Phase Changes, Distillation, Introduction, Separating Mixtures, Interdisciplinary, Mixtures, Physical Change | Elementary School
Lesson Plan: Now I Can Drink the Water! Mark as Favorite (3 Favorites)
In this lesson, students review important concepts of the water cycle and then design, test, and evaluate a working model of a desalination plant (a distiller).