Curated OER
Structure of the Atom
Students practice drawing the atomic structure of several different elements. They complete critical thinking questions about atomic structure and compare the atomic mass units for different ions and isotopes of an element.
Curated OER
Reading the Periodic Table
Students identify the general atomic structure of an element represented on the periodic table. They examine bean and rice patterns that have been created by the teacher and posted around the room and then attempt to match the periodic...
Curated OER
Photocells II: The Photoelectric Effect in Photocells
Learners discuss the principles of atomic structure that underlie the operation of a photovoltaic cell and explains how they apply to a photovoltaic cell's operation. An area of the classroom is staked off to represent a photovoltaic...
Curated OER
Atomic Age Critical Thinking
High schoolers research and discuss issues surrounding the atomic bomb and the concerns it raised and the consequences of dropping the atomic bombs on Japan. A variety of sample questions are provided to engage discussion.
PHET
AM Radio Ionosphere Station
Tune in! Young scientists use an AM radio at home to monitor solar output. The long-term project would be ideal in a flipped classroom or as an out-of-class project.
Curated OER
Organic Chemistry II Exam 3
In this chemistry worksheet, students determine which compound is the most acidic in each multiple choice question. Then they determine what the major product would be in each of the reactions stated on the sheet.
Curated OER
Properties of Matter
Ninth graders explore the molecular structure of matter and how it can affect the physical characteristics of a specific material. They demonstrate that isotopes of an element have different masses. Students demonstrate that the rates of...
Curated OER
Matter: Atoms and Molecules
Students investigate how information about the atom has been determined. In this atomic structure lesson, students draw what they think an atom looks like. They conduct Internet research about the types of atomic models and how...
Curated OER
The Atom
Young scholars study the structure of an atom and its different spectra.In this atomic instructional activity students complete a class activity on the history of atoms and a spectroscope lab.
Virginia Department of Education
Properties of Compounds and Chemical Formulas
Young chemists have unknown compounds they need to sort. Performing three different tests on each, the chemical behaviors they observe become the basis for data analysis.
Curated OER
Building Blocks of Matter
Students view videos and worksheets and construct a model of a water molecule. In this atomic structure instructional activity, students view video clips and handouts about matter and nanoscience. They construct a model of a water...
Curated OER
An Introduction To Material Sciences
Students investigate the concept of molecular structure. They describe the behavior of simulated molecules and identify any dislocations in crystalline structures. They also define various related vocabulary words and use them in...
Curated OER
A Model of a Scanning Tunneling Microscope
Ninth graders explain how a scanning tunneling microscope works. In this chemistry instructional activity, 9th graders construct atomic models and simulate how their images appear under the STM. They discuss the limitations of their...
Virginia Department of Education
Elements and Electron Configuration
It's electronic! Pupils uncover elements and their electron configurations as they explore mass, groupings, correct charges, and sliding theory. Young scientists learn creative ways to remember various elements and correctly...
Virginia Department of Education
Radioactive Decay and Half-Life
Explain the importance of radioactive half-life as your high school biologists demonstrate the concept by performing a series of steps designed to simulate radioactive decay. Pupils use pennies to perform an experiment and gather data....
Virginia Department of Education
Mineral Identification
What's the difference between a rock and a mineral? And what properties are used to identify minerals? The first installment of a five-part series on earth materials and processes prompts young scientists to identify a set of...
Virginia Department of Education
Molar Volume of a Gas
What is a chemist's favorite plant? Stoichiome Tree! Scholars produce hydrogen gas by reacting magnesium with hydrochloric acid. Then they calculate the molar volume of the gas produced before answering assessment questions.
Virginia Department of Education
Solution Concentrations
What happens when you combine 6.022 times 10 to the 23 piles of dirt into one? You make a mountain out of a mole hill. Scholars use dehydration to obtain percent composition and then calculate the molarity of the original...
Curated OER
Elements and the Periocic Table
Eighth graders draw the structure of an atom. They construct atomic models, list parts/locations of an atom, organize parts of the periodic table and write a descriptive report about an element.
Curated OER
Matter, Matter
Learners define vocabulary related to the parts of the atom. In this matter instructional activity, students navigate the web to find the structure and the forces that affect atoms. Learners complete an experiment with...
Curated OER
Periodic Table & Its Trends
Students review atomic structure and then participate in a activity in which they categorize several "elements" into some form of order based on their properties. They discuss the trends they see. They also practice several electron...
Curated OER
Kinetics and Equilibrium
Students develop an understanding of what a reaction is and factors that affect it. They are introduced to: reaction mechanisms, reaction rates, reaction order, factors affecting reaction rates, Le Chatelier's Principle and Equilibrium.
Virginia Department of Education
Macromolecules
Finally, a chance for the class to play with their food! Allow pupils to simulate stomach acid with common foods, and introduce specific macromolecules into the mixture to explore characteristics of carbohydrates, lipids,...
Curated OER
DNA, Genes, and Chromosomes
Learners review the structure and function of DNA, genes, and chromosomes and are engaged by a demonstration illustrating the relative size of DNA, genes and chromosomes. They also describe through analogy and model the structure and...