When life hands you lemons ... experiment on them! Green chemistry gurus compare extraction methods for essential oils through a lab activity. Lab groups use traditional distillation and liquid carbon dioxide extraction methods, then...

Plasma is the most common phase of matter in our universe. Scholars explore the change of energy as molecules change phases of matter. They rotate through stations, graphing the changes in energy level.

Why does soda fizz when opened? Learners discuss the appearance of bubbles in soda bottles when opened. In groups, they design and complete an experiment comparing the amount of carbon dioxide dissolving in cold versus hot liquids.  

Demonstrate the particle theory of matter to high school scientists with an engaging experiment that allows them to visually see the results as substances change from one state to another. The class concludes with a discussion about how...

Is it a solid, liquid. or gas? Cut out these graphics for a fun manipulative game that has kids sorting everyday items into their states of matter. They complete three worksheets referencing the sorting activity. 

Dare your class to drive dissolved carbon dioxide out of carbonated liquid at different temperatures to discover if there is a difference in rate. To make this experiment more sound, have explorers use equally measured amounts of soda...

Using helium as an example of propane, physical science middle schoolers experiment with and graph the relationship between temperature and volume in gases. In a whole-class demonstration, they show how molecules behave under different...

Although it was published in the year 2000, this chemistry assignment is ideal for practicing the application of Charles' law. There are seven real-world problems to solve, and plenty of space provided for doing so. Add this to your...

Your physical science class learns that there are three states of matter, and that adding or removing heat can cause it to change from one state to another. By the animations, printed information, and discussion between RJ and Zoe, they...

In a friendly, casual conversation on the beach, two animated teens discuss the periodic table. Assign this video to be viewed at home by physical science fans. After viewing, they can write definitions for key vocabulary terms and take...

Mix it up at a party as Sam and Zoe discuss heterogeneous and homogenous mixtures and solutions. Follow this film by allowing your class to put together individual snack foods to make their own mixture!

Sixty multiple choice questions cover the entire gamut of chemistry concepts. This is the local section of the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad, where your chemistry candidates take a shot at entering the national competition. They...

The National Chemistry Olympiad exams are comprehensive tests covering an entire  year of chemistry concepts. You can use them as practice for competing in the challenge, or simply as a review, or as an actual final exam for your general...

Students investigate the properties of plastic eggs filled with solids, liquids, and gases and use these observations to hypothesize whether a chicken egg is hard-boiled or raw.

Middle schoolers explore heat energy and how it is used to change the phase of matter, and discover that temperature does not increase or decrease until the phase change is complete. This extremely well-written plan is packed with great...

Students explore and identify phases of matter and compare the particle motion in solids, liquids, and gasses.

Pair earth scientists up to use an amazing online arctic portal mapping tool and Google Earth to analyze permafrost changes. They compare changes to data on atmospheric concentrations of methane to see if there is a correlation. Then...

Physical science learners conduct a simple experiment using the heat of their hands to affect the fluid pressure. They place a balloon atop a freezing cold bottle and observe what occurs as it warms up. Both activities demonstrate how...

A series of attention-grabbing demonstrations and lab activities is outlined in this document. Through them, chemistry kids appreciate the behavior of gases. Inflate balloons, marshmallows, and toothpaste tubes without adding air! Use...

In this National Olympiad exam worksheet, chemistry apprentices answer sixty multiple choice questions including general chemistry topics such as atomic structure, gases, problem solving, writing and balancing equations and solutions....

Sixty multiple-choice chemistry questions make up this comprehensive exam used for the 2001 US National Chemistry Olympiad. Every topic that you would expect to approach in a general chemistry class is queried on. You could easily use...

Here is a copy of a past national challenge exam that you can use in your general chemistry course as a unit or semester review. Sixty multiple-choice questions query learners on properties of matter, stoichiometry, reactions, and...

To wrap up your year of general chemistry, have lab groups compete in a tot wire chemical vapor deposition (HWCVD) competition. With their foundation in chemical nomenclature, stoichiometry, and gas laws, each group completes several...

This PowerPoint is a gem! Seventy-eight slides present an entire introduction to matter in bullet-point fashion. Viewers learn about everything from mass and inertia to phase changes and gas laws! The only glitch is that the links to...