National Chemistry Week 2026 is Almost Here! Celebrate with AACT Resources
By AACT on October 5, 2026
National Chemistry Week
(NCW) is a public awareness campaign that promotes the value of
chemistry in everyday life. We encourage teachers and students to get
involved and celebrate the 2026 NCW theme "Chemistry Under Construction." From
concrete to steel, stone to glass, chemistry is everywhere in
construction. This year, NCW is celebrated during the week of October
18–24. It's never too early to start planning your celebration! Find
classroom resources and ways to participate below, and check back for updates and new resources.
AACT Resources
There are many AACT classroom resources that can be used to celebrate NCW and help students learn about the chemistry of construction:
- Lesson Plan: Observing Properties of Those Marvelous Metals (HS)
- Lesson Plan: Removing Copper Stains from Masonry (HS)
- Lesson Plan: Rustbusters! A Lab Activity on Corrosion (HS)
- Lab: The Corrosion of Iron (HS)
- Lab: Corrosion in Motion (MS, HS)
- Lab: How Do Sinkholes Form? (MS, HS)
- Lab: Chemical Weathering in Geology (MS)
- Lab: Chemical Weathering of Rocks (ES)
- Lesson Plan: Environmental Problems (ES)
In addition, find ChemMatters articles in the archive that examine chemistry's role in construction:
- Mystery Matters: Biosphere II
- ChemSumer: Chemistry Builds a Green Home
- Students Build Solar Homes
- How Sticky Innovations Changed the World
- Beat the Heat... with Paint!
- Tales of Concrete Forensics
Other ACS Resources
Check out the NCW webpage for all things NCW! Some highlights include: