Log In | Join AACT | Renew Membership

Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics

Filter by:

  3. Sort by:

  2. Clear All Filters

1 – 25 of 620 Classroom Resources

  • Measurements, Significant Figures, Accuracy, Error Analysis, Intermolecular Forces, Accuracy, Error Analysis | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lesson Plan: Fit for Consumption?

    In this lesson, students will learn about a product recall of baby formula. Students will explore regulations around foods for human consumption and the quality control process that is part of food production. They will use their knowledge of the difference in intermolecular forces between solids and liquids to determine the moisture content in samples of powders. Students will then assume the role of quality control technicians and write a report in which they provide a data-informed decision as to whether their batch should be discarded or is fit for consumption.

  • Physical Change, Chemical Change, Observations, Chemical Change, Radioactive Isotopes | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Activity: Physical, Chemical and Nuclear Changes

    In this activity, students will analyze the representation of physical, chemical, and nuclear changes in four ways: submicroscopic (particle diagrams), symbolic (equations), macroscopic (observations), and linguistic (vocabulary words). This self-guided activity is designed to ensure that students internalize fundamental chemistry concepts that will serve as a meaningful basis for future learning about matter and its changes.

  • Alpha/Beta/Gamma Decay, Radioactive Isotopes, Graphing | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Activity: The Nuclear Decay of Uranium

    In this activity, students will model the Uranium decay series through nuclear equations, graphing, and particulate diagrams.

  • History, Observations, Identifying an Unknown, Molecular Structure , Functional Groups | High School

    Lesson Plan: Introduction to Flavor Chemistry

    In this lesson, students will read an article about flavor chemistry to learn about the science of tasting. There are a series of activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading and help students experience what they’ve read about. One part, the Job Interview, could be used as plans for a substitute teacher since the activity is self-guided.

  • Elements, Periodic Table, Review | High School

    Activity: Clueless Crossword

    In this activity, students will need a pencil and eraser as they are challenged to complete a crossword puzzle without any traditional clues! Instead, students are given a list of element symbols and tasked with determining the element name for each symbol. Then, using the names, they will then attempt to place each one correctly in the puzzle. With only one possible solution, this puzzle can be very tricky!

  • Solutions, Concentration, Solubility, Molarity, Graphing | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Activity: Concentration and Solubility

    In this activity, students will use news articles and EPA publications to compare Federal drinking water regulations to the concentrations found in Flint, Michigan. Students are introduced to the unit parts per billion (ppb) and compare it both conceptually and mathematically to molarity. As a group, students use data to compare the solubility of various lead salts and perform solubility calculations.

  • Separating Mixtures, Mixtures, Distillation, Physical Properties | Middle School, High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Animation: Separating Mixtures Animation

    In this animation, students will be introduced to 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.

  • Separating Mixtures, Mixtures, Physical Properties, Distillation | Middle School, High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Activity: Animation Activity: Separating Mixtures

    In this activity, students will view an animation that introduces them to 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.

  • Measurements, Graphing, Interdisciplinary | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Activity: Modeling Algae Growth

    In this activity, students will read a ChemMatters article about the science of algal blooms to learn how the blooms affect ecosystems. While developing their understanding, students will create a mathematical model to predict algal growth.

  • Photosynthesis, Interdisciplinary | Middle School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lesson Plan: Algae – The Good, the Bad, and the Tasty

    In this lesson, students will learn about the chemistry of algae, while working in a small group to become an expert on a specific type of algae. Divided into four parts the lesson is designed for students to investigate the process of photosynthesis, learn about the variety of uses for algae as well as products that contain algae, and the harmful effects of algae, such as red tides. As a culminating task, student groups will each complete a short presentation.

  • Solubility, Observations | Elementary School, Middle School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Activity: Paper Flower Blossoms

    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.

  • Observations, Physical Properties, Solubility, Ionic Bonding | High School, Middle School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lab: Microscopic Wonder

    In this lab, students observe and describe the shape, size, and arrangement of salt crystals at various magnifications under a microscope and then compare the properties of each microscopically.

  • Interdisciplinary, Photosynthesis | High School

    Activity: Algae Trivia

    In this activity, students will participate in a trivia game created in support of the 2023 Chemists Celebrate Earth Week (CCEW) theme, The Curious Chemistry of Amazing Algae. Students will participate individually or as a team to test their knowledge about algae and related chemistry topics.

  • Review, Culminating Project, Stoichiometry | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Activity: The Chemistry Escape Room Remix

    In this activity, students will apply their chemistry knowledge in order to solve ten clues in an effort to determine a three-digit combination that will open a “lock.” This is ideal for a review activity, as the clues span a plethora of chemistry topics. The solution from each clue will be used to correctly write a chemical reaction and a corresponding stoichiometry calculation. Ultimately, by solving the stoichiometry calculation, the answer will match the numbers in the three-digit combination and open the “lock.”

  • Interdisciplinary | Middle School, High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Activity: Chemistry Reading Reflection

    In this activity, students will read a short informational science text about chemistry in the real-world (either pre-selected by the teacher, or chosen by the student from a collection of articles) and will briefly summarize and reflect on what they read. This activity could be reused many times with different articles (or even other types of media, like videos) and would be easy to incorporate into a sub plan.

  • Pharmaceuticals, Monomer, Polymers, Molecular Structure , Interdisciplinary, History | High School

    Lesson Plan: Carbohydrate Metabolism

    In this lesson, students will learn about how the metabolism of carbohydrates in the body were studied. There are a series of activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading. This lesson could be easily used as plans for a substitute teacher, as most of the activities are self-guided.

  • Concentration, Precipitate, Molarity, Molality, Conductivity, Colligative Properties, Boiling Point Elevation, Freezing Point Depression, Distillation, Culminating Project, Graphing, Accuracy, Error Analysis, Interdisciplinary, Mixtures, pH, Buffers, Boiling Point, Freezing Point, Phase Changes | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lesson Plan: Investigating Sea Water

    In this lesson, students will consider their water footprint and means to obtain fresh water from seawater using a solar still. To understand the differences between fresh water and seawater, students will determine the composition of artificial seawater by using qualitative analysis to test for different ions in solution and calculate the molarity of different salts used in the recipe. Students will observe the effects of solutes in aqueous solutions by measuring conductivity and the freezing and boiling points of seawater and deionized water and determine total dissolved solids. In addition, students explore the buffering ability of seawater and the effect of carbon dioxide on its pH.

  • Renewable Energy, Heat, Temperature, Specific Heat, Interdisciplinary, Graphing | Middle School, High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lesson Plan: Solar Cookers

    In this lesson, students will learn about the use of alternative cooking fuels that could replace burning wood, coal, or other smoke-producing materials to heat and cook food in developing nations, focusing on solar cookers. They will watch a video and read an article that provide a general overview of the need for alternative fuels. Then, in small groups, students will research, design, build, and test a solar cooker to determine if it is an effective method of cooking food in a developing nation. They will give a presentation to the class on their design, test results, and any improvements they would make to their initial design, and they will answer some reflection questions about the solar cookers made by their class and their role in the group project.

  • Identifying an Unknown, Chemical Properties, Solute & Solvent, Mixtures | Middle School, High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lab: Local Water Analysis

    In this lab, students use simple pool test strips to collect water samples from local water sources, such as area faucets, pools, lakes, rivers, puddles, etc. They will compile all of the collected data to allow students to collectively make observations and ask testable questions. After determining a question of interest, groups of students will organize the related data, research relevant background information, form reasonable conclusions, and present their arguments.

  • Combustion, Chemical Change, Balancing Equations, Reaction Rate, Conservation of Mass, Conservation of Matter, Stoichiometry, Limiting Reactant, Chemical Change, Conservation of Matter, Conservation of Mass, Graphing, Error Analysis, Accuracy, Observations, Inferences, Interdisciplinary, Reaction Rate, Catalysts, Measurements, Mole Concept | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lesson Plan: Clean Air Chemistry

    In this lesson, students will learn about air pollution and some steps toward mitigating it. First, they will burn a candle and measure its mass and the concentration of CO2 over time. Students will discuss which data set they have more confidence in and why and then use stoichiometry to predict outcomes. Next, students explore incomplete combustion in a model-based worksheet that shows how a lack of O2 in the burning of fuels can produce air pollution. Students work together to interpret the models, define terms, and draw conclusions. Lastly, students work in groups using Lego models to illustrate how a catalytic converter works. They race “Nature” against catalysts “Palladium,” “Platinum,” and “Rhodium” to see what breaks down air pollution molecules fastest.

  • Atomic Radius, Atoms, Ionic Radius, Subatomic Particles, Periodic Table | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Activity: Animation Activity: Atomic & Ionic Radii

    In this activity, students will use an animation to visualize atomic and ionic radii. They will look at the different sizes of atoms in the third period and the atoms in the sixth group to see trends across periods and down groups. They will also look at an atom and its corresponding cation as well as an atom and its corresponding anion.

  • Measurements, SI Units, Mole Concept, Physical Properties, Density | Middle School, High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Activity: Animation Activity: Units of Chemistry

    In this activity, students will view an animation that introduces them to the importance of including units to communicate the value of measurements effectively. The animation presents definitions, units of measurement, and measuring tools for physical properties that are commonly measured or calculated in chemistry class: mass, length, temperature, volume, amount (moles), and density.

  • Atomic Structure, Atomic Mass, Electrons, Ions, Subatomic Particles, Density, Periodic Table, Quantitative Chemistry, Dimensional Analysis, Mole Concept | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Activity: A Pound of Numbers

    In this activity, students will review a series of fundamental chemistry questions and select the answer from two choices provided. Upon completion, the sum of all the correct answers will equal the number of grams in one pound. Students can then use dimensional analysis to determine the number of grams in one pound for comparison.

  • Quantitative Chemistry, Percent Composition, Measurements, Observations | High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Lab: Dehydration of Hydrated Salt

    In this lab, students are introduced to chemical measurement in a hands-on investigation using a heat source and a hydrated compound. Students will determine the percentage water lost, by mass, from a hydrated compound during the heating process. Additionally, students will analyze and interpret their results in a claim, evidence, reasoning format.

  • SI Units, Mole Concept, Measurements, Physical Properties, Density | Middle School, High School

    Access is an AACT member benefit. Animation: Units of Chemistry Animation

    In this animation, students will be introduced to the importance of including units to communicate the value of measurements effectively. The animation presents definitions, units of measurement, and measuring tools for physical properties that are commonly measured or calculated in chemistry class: mass, length, temperature, volume, amount (moles), and density. **This video has no audio**

Available Filters