Kenan Fellows
What Element Would You Be?
Primo Levi wrote a collection of short stories comparing his life from Italy to Auschwitz to elements in the periodic table. Pupils read an excerpt from his book and research the characteristics of various elements. Then, they make a...
Cornell University
Radical Reactions
The radical reactions of polymers seems abstract to many pupils, but this lesson turns them into a fun building game. Scholars use dice and building pieces to build polymers. Then, they determine the theoretical and experimental weight...
Curated OER
Chemical Composition of Everyday Objects
High schoolers relate chemistry to an object they use everyday. They research information related to chemistry and create their own webpage. They are to keep their page up to date as new observations are taken.
Curated OER
Speed me up, Scotty!
Students describe and define chemical reactions. They design a laboratory experiment, collect data and analyze data.
Curated OER
Infrared Spectroscopy in Forensic Chip Analysis
Students analyze spectrums as related to forensics. In this chemistry lesson, students define spectroscopy and discuss its use in chemistry. They discuss how the Forensic Paint Chip is used to help solve crimes.
Curated OER
Studying with Chemical Compounds
Learners create a foldable to help them remember topics on chemical compounds. In this physical science lesson, students differentiate ionic and covalent compounds. Given certain compounds, they identify whether it's ionic or covalent.
Virginia Department of Education
Mystery Iron Ions
Young chemists perform an experiment to determine if a compound is iron (II) chloride or iron (III) chloride. Then they determine the formula, balance the equation, and answer analysis questions.
Virginia Department of Education
Vapor Pressure and Colligative Properties
Hate to vacuum, but enjoy using a vacuum pump? Explore a lesson plan that starts with a demonstration of boiling water at various temperatures by using a vacuum pump. Then scholars design their own experiments to measure vapor pressure...
Virginia Department of Education
A Crystal Lab
Young chemists grow ionic crystals, metallic crystals, and supersaturated crystals in three different lab experiments. Observing these under a microscope allows pupils to compare the various structures.
Curated OER
Creating Biodiesel and Mitigating Waste
Biotechnology pros produce their own biofuel using waste oil and fresh vegetable oil. They test the quality of their product using titration techniques and pH analysis. They write their observations and report their findings. Be aware...
Perkins School for the Blind
Building an Organic Molecule
Glucose is a simple sugar and a molecule that can be illustrated through modeling. Scientific investigators with visual impairments use hands-on models to reconstruct the process of bonding molecules. The tools used in this activity are...
Curated OER
Chemical Sleuthing
Students engage in a activity which includes flame tests and the construction of a simple diffraction spectrograph with which to measure sodium ion emissions. They use the Bragg equation to compute the wavelength of the line spectra...
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.
Curated OER
Activity #3 Are Particles "Real?"
Students verbalize a simple particle theory, They apply their particle theory to explain what happens during chemical reactions and how this theory supports the law of conservation of matter. Pupils comprehend that the atomic theory,...
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
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
Industrialization of the American Landscape - Major Project
Students consider the role of industry on the American landscape from a variety of perspectives. They investigate a simulated case study. They investigate a chemical spill catastrophe. Students write an informative pamphlet to assist...
Curated OER
Classifying Matter Game
Students identify the different states of matter. In this chemistry lesson, students differentiate the physical properties of the three states. They apply what they learned by playing a team game at the end of the lesson.
American Chemical Society
Development of Baking Powder
Did you know baking powder can be used to treat acne, whiten teeth, and make sugar cookies? The lesson on the development of baking powder is ready-to-go with no preparation required. Through readings, pupils answer questions, complete...
Curated OER
Properties of Matter
High schoolers investigate the properties of matter. For this properties of matter lesson, students observe containers of different metals and discuss their properties including density. High schoolers find the density of an unknown...
Curated OER
Energy in the Natural Environment
Students examine the flow of energy through the natural environment. In groups, they describe the effect of energy on the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere. To end the lesson, they experiment with the chemical and physical...
Curated OER
Polymers-Greaaaaaat Biiiiiig Molecuuuuuules
Students explore polymer properties. In this instructional activity about polymers, students perform an experiment to understand polymers, their properties, and that they are formed from small molecules. Students role play pretending...
Curated OER
Activity #19 Oxygen For Yeast
Students observe and record what occurs when yeast is added to hydrogen peroxide. They indicate why a chemical reaction (decompostion) must have occurred during the experiement. Pupils explain why yeast was used. Students comprehend the...