Curated OER
Solution Chemistry Investigation
Students engage in a lesson that is concerned with the concepts related to solution chemistry. They calculate the molar mass of various chemical compounds. Then students predict the anion ratio for ionic compounds. Students also write...
Curated OER
Tie Dye
Students practice writing research proposals to test the color fastness of a dye once it has been exposed to a t-shirt. Each proposal needs details of experimental design, length of treatment, and means of cleaning the shirt. All...
Curated OER
Molar Ratio
Students conduct an experiment in which they react sodium bicarbonate with hydrochloric acid to determine the molar ration between the two reactants. Students must write correct formula and a balanced chemical equation and explain how...
Virginia Department of Education
Aspirin Analysis
Laughter may be the best medicine, but aspirin is also important. Young chemists analyze aspirin tablets using titration in this lab experiment. They then repeat the entire experiment using a different aspirin brand.
Kenan Fellows
Industrial Knowledge of Acids and Bases
Over a 10-year period, EPA regulations cost businesses less than $30 billion, while businesses saved over $82 billion. Scholars experiment with acids and bases to better understand the pH scale. Then they debate environmental regulation...
Curated OER
How Foods Bonds Our Diverse Background
Students have a better understanding of how food choices reflect our cultural background. They reduce a recipe to the correct serving size.
Virginia Department of Education
Molecular Model Building
During this hands-on activity, young chemists build molecular models based on the Lewis dot structure before studying valence shell electron pair repulsion theory.
Chicago Botanic Garden
Are All Plants Created Equal?
Photosynthesis requires energy and produces food, and cellular respiration produces energy and requires food. An interesting activity analyzes the factors that affect the rates of photosynthesis and respiration. Classes spend one day...
Curated OER
Enzymes in Action
Students explore how enzymes are important in the chemical reactions of all living things. In this enzymes and catalysts lesson students complete an activity to see how enzymes change living things.
Curated OER
Molecular Models Laboratory
Students use models to visualize molecular structures. Students read about Lewis dot structures, hybridization, and formal charge. Then students build and draw the molecules and ions given. Students complete 11 pre-lab questions and 4...
Curated OER
Bouncing Balls
Students create a polymer to demonstrate its properties and develop an awareness of the wide variety of uses for polymers.
Curated OER
How Genes Work Lesson Plan
Students define the key terms that are the structure and function of DNA. In this genetics lesson students complete a lab activity in which they construct a model DNA structure.
Curated OER
Oil Embargo!
Ninth graders generate and analyze data to determine which and how much of two polymers best absorb oils, formulate procedure to accurately determine how many times its own weight particular polymer can absorb, and develop understanding...
Curated OER
Giants of the Protozoa
Students describe and define xenophyophores. In this protozoa lesson students divide into groups and complete a lab activity.
Curated OER
Science with Mud!
Eighth graders give some examples of chemical reactions they see everyday. For this chemistry lesson, 8th graders investigate how much water soil can hold. They collect data and compare results with others.
Curated OER
Solar
Students study solar energy. In this renewable energy instructional activity students complete several lab activities using different controls and variables.
Curated OER
The Great Gas Race
Fourth graders improve their understanding of Graham's Law by using properties of gases to evaluate the rate of effusion of two compounds as they vaporize. They engage in a lab which elevates their understanding of the properties of gases.
Curated OER
What is Matter?
Students investigate what matter is and how it changes states. In this physical properties instructional activity, students examine the vocabulary database and identify the characteristics of the three phases of matter. Students...
Curated OER
Animals of the Fire Ice
Students examine ocean life by identifying methane hydrates. In this ocean life lesson, students research organisms that live in the coldest, deepest parts of the ocean and live off methane hydrates. Students create a group...
Curated OER
Biodegradability
Students study the effects of water, salt water and heat on common household materials. They separate an emulsion and show that the materials are completely recoverable and observe the effect of acetone and water on polystyrene.
Curated OER
Water and Polymers
Students conduct qualitative and quantitative investigations based on the interaction between water and various polymers. They determine the percent moisture contained in various plastics along with a qualitative procedure to determine...
Curated OER
Intrinsic Viscosity
Students treat a high molecular weight polyvinyl alcohol polymer with potassium periodate. They measure the viscosity of polyvinyl alcohols.
Curated OER
Animals of the Fire Ice
Students study ice worms and describe how they interact with other species. In this methane hydrate lesson plan students study ice worms and hydrate shrimp to learn their behavior and can participate in an optional activity.
Curated OER
The Influence of Carbon Dioxide on the Chemistry of Soda
Young scholars investigate the carbon dioxide content of different sodas. In this chemistry lesson, students explain why PET containers are preferable than HDPE for soda bottles. They collect data and graph them.