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  • Chemistry Fun | March 2024 Access is an AACT member benefit. Chemistry Emoji Pictionary

    In this activity, students will try to determine the correct chemistry related term, phrase, or item based on a provided set of emojis.

  • Tech Tips | March 2024 Access is an AACT member benefit. Tapping the Potential of Artificial Intelligence in the Classroom

    The author explores the advantages and disadvantages of AI in education. He highlights practical applications while encouraging a balanced perspective, thereby leveraging the potential while addressing risks.

  • Editorial | March 2024 Teacher Leadership in Science and Chemistry

    AACT President-Elect Martin Palermo discusses the concerning trend of STEM educator retention, particularly in chemistry. He highlights the benefits of engaging in teacher leadership and the role of organizations like AACT in supporting chemistry educators.

  • Chemistry Fun | November 2023 Chemistry Pyramids

    In this activity, students will use the periodic table, combined with math and logic to solve several chemistry themed pyramid puzzles. In a traditional pyramid puzzle, there is a relationship between the numbers, which is used to determine the missing numbers. In all of these chemistry pyramids, each element symbol is determined by the sum of the two atomic numbers of the elements directly below it. Students are challenged with determining the missing element symbols in each puzzle, but first must use a periodic table to find the atomic number for each element symbol appearing in the puzzle. This activity is a fun challenge for students and provides the opportunity to strengthen logic and reasoning skills.

  • Nuts & Bolts | November 2023 Access is an AACT member benefit. A Self-Paced, Mastery-Based Chemistry Classroom

    The author uses three elements in her classroom: blended instruction, self-paced learning, and mastery-based grading. These components foster students’ ownership of their own learning, helping them find joy in mastering challenging topics and gain confidence in their abilities.

  • Editorial | November 2023 Engaging Students Through Chemistry Research

    AACT Governing Board SOCED Representative Don Warner explains how his career began with scientific research that changed his life. He implores educators to introduce their students to research opportunities and incorporate course-based research experiences into their classes.

  • Classroom Commentary | November 2023 Student Mental Health Matters... and so Does Yours!

    Student mental health has gained greater focus over recent years, yet many teachers have not applied that knowledge to themselves. A discussion at ChemEd 2023, led by the author, introduced techniques for teachers to prioritize their own well-being.

  • In My Element | November 2023 Access is an AACT member benefit. An Unexpected Journey from Medical Aspirations to Becoming a Teacher in the UAE

    In this article, the author describes lessons learned in her journey to becoming a teacher in both a foreign language and country. She also describes the challenges faced during her first years as a chemistry teacher.

  • Classroom Commentary | November 2023 Access is an AACT member benefit. Preparing Students for the International Science and Engineering Fair

    In this article, the author describes her efforts to prepare students for the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) for the first time. She also shares the experience of two students who reached the regional and state levels.

  • Advice Column | November 2023 Access is an AACT member benefit. Dear Labby: Frustrated with Flames

    A teacher asks how to create a brighter green flame as part of the "Flame Test" lab. 

  • Classroom Commentary | September 2023 Access is an AACT member benefit. The Impact of Mentorship

    The author describes the sizable gap in academic performance in STEM that existed between the White and Hispanic students at the high school where she teaches. Creating a club for her school’s Hispanic students to provide STEM mentorship helped address the issue successfully.

  • Nuts & Bolts | September 2023 ChatGPT in the Chemistry Classroom

    Learn how two co-teachers plan to explore and integrate artificial intelligence (AI), specifically ChatGPT, in their science classroom. This article emphasizes that AI should not replace teachers, but rather be used to enhance the learning experience.

  • Editorial | September 2023 Connect, Collaborate, and Contribute

    As teachers embark on the new school year, the 2023-24 AACT Governing Board President, Michael Farabaugh, encourages educators to embrace what he calls the “three C’s.”

  • Tech Tips | September 2023 Access is an AACT member benefit. Making the Instructional Videos I Wish I’d Had as a Teacher

    A former chemistry teacher shares about the challenges she faced in the past when incorporating videos into her teaching, and how she now uses that perspective in her work as a science video content creator.

  • Classroom Commentary | September 2023 Access is an AACT member benefit. Empowering Preservice Teachers Through Mentoring

    In this article, the author reflects on her experience as a mentor of preservice teachers and the valuable impact it has on their personal and professional growth.

  • Chemistry Fun | September 2023 Polyatomic Ion Word Search

    In this activity, students will be challenged to recognize and identify common polyatomic ions by name and chemical formula. Unlike a traditional word search puzzle, students are only provided with a list of formulas for 24 polyatomic ions, instead of the names of each. They are tasked with finding the corresponding ion names hidden in the puzzle, and then must match each one with its correct formula.

  • Advice Column | September 2023 Dear Labby: Puzzled With Precipitates

    A teacher from Texas asks about precipitates and Labby answers. 

  • Resource Feature | September 2023 Access is an AACT member benefit. Developing Chemistry Lessons with Student Interest in Mind

    The author shares an overview of example chemistry lessons designed to engage low performing students by connecting content with relevant life experiences. Connections to NGSS standards, as well as attention to reading, writing, and mathematics are described as well.

  • Editorial | May 2023 How Are You?

    AACT President Matt Perekupka reflects on the school year and revisits the topic of teacher burnout. He hopes that other teachers have shared his feeling of revitalization this school year and credits the importance of building connections for combatting his battle with burnout.

  • Nuts & Bolts | May 2023 Access is an AACT member benefit. Using Notetaking to Help Students Take More Meaningful Notes

    In this article the author discusses her journey to transform traditional notetaking in her classroom to a more active, engaging activity for students. She describes several successful strategies that she uses in her middle school science classroom, including group notetaking, processing-based activities, like one-pagers, and combining colors, pictures and text through the sketchnoting approach.

  • Chemistry Fun | May 2023 Access is an AACT member benefit. 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!

  • In My Element | May 2023 Access is an AACT member benefit. Embracing a Challenging Opportunity

    In this article, a teacher shares his story about moving from the Philippines to Orlando, Florida to accept a chemistry teaching position at an inner city, Title I high school. He highlights an unanticipated challenge that he encountered, his successful journey to overcome it, and some adjustments he needed to make in order to succeed. He shares several strategies and examples that helped him along the way, ultimately motivating him to remain true to his calling as a teacher.

  • Classroom Commentary | May 2023 Access is an AACT member benefit. 5 Lessons I Wish I’d Learned Earlier in My Career

    A veteran chemistry teacher shares five pearls of teaching wisdom from her teaching career. She hopes to inspire and support fellow chemistry teachers, especially those who are just starting out in the profession.

  • Resource Feature | May 2023 Exploring Social Justice Through a Chemistry Lens

    This article details a project that introduces students to the intersection of social justice and chemistry. Over the course of a semester, students study the Flint, Michigan water crisis and discuss the social aspects while exploring the solution chemistry underlying the events.

  • Chemistry Fun | March 2023 Access is an AACT member benefit. 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.