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.
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Temperature Changes Everything
Middle school chemists visit interactive websites in order to discover what happens to molecular motion when heat is added to matter. They conduct an experiment that demonstrates the expansion of matter with the addition of heat. A lab...
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Properties of Metals
Fifth graders study the properties of metals and use them to identify different properties. In this metal properties instructional activity students complete a demonstration .
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Atomic Structure
In this atom worksheet, learners define the atomic theory, compare an atom and a molecule, determine atomic number and number of protons for elements, and draw Bohr models for given elements. This worksheet has 4 graphic organizer, 8...
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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...
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Making a Human Methane Molecule
Students demonstrate the components of methane molecules to discover their effects on the atmosphere. Students role-play as four hydrogen atoms and one carbon atom linked together to make a methane molecule. Students act as the molecule...
Virginia Department of Education
Mystery Anions
Lost an electron? You should keep an ion them. Young chemists learn qualitative analysis in the second lesson of an 11-part chemistry series. After observing reactions of simple salts, the teacher provides pupils with unknown...
Virginia Department of Education
Finding the Formula and Percent Composition
Do you have mole problems? If so, call Avogadro at 602-2140. The lesson starts with pupils working independently to solve for molar mass of ionic compounds. Then they learn to solve for percent composition and later perform an...
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Winter
Students explore the nature of water and water molecules. They examine the role of ice on organisms.
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Reading Chemical Formulas
Students interpret basic chemical formulas. When class begins, students interpret a "chemical formula" for fruit salad. After they interpret the recipe, students use the same strategies to identify chemical formulas. They evaluate the...
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Heat Transfer & Phase Changes
In this heat transfer and phase change worksheet, students experiment with ice, salt, and milk to show the relationship between the temperature of a solution and its phase. Students turn milk from a liquid to a solid and graph the...
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More About Static Electricity
Students examine the concept that static electricity is a phenomenon that involves positive and negative charges. They explore the Static Electricity section of the Science, Technology and Engineering website to learn more about the...
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World of Plastics and Polymers
Students investigate plastics and learn they are giant molecules made of carbon atoms. In this polymers and plastics lesson, students perform 3 activities which all include making polymers from household items such as milk and vinegar,...
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Boot Reer Root Beer
Fifth graders investigate chemical reactions. In this physical science instructional activity, 5th graders make dry ice root beer and identify the type of change that occurs to the root beer mixture.
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Traveling Nitrogen
Students act out the cycling of nitrogen through the environment. In this nutrient cycle instructional activity, students role play as nitrogen atoms traveling through the nitrogen cycle. They travel to stations and roll dice...
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The Mole
Students investigate moles and Avogadro's hypothesis. In this moles lesson plan, students complete a worksheet by finding the volume of 1 mole of each substance given its density and they find the number of molecules, the formula, the...
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Bhopal - Covalent Bonding
Using the chemicals that leaked in the Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984, chemists examine covalent bonds. Provide for them the chemical reactions and have them draw Lewis diagrams for the molecules involved. That's about all there is to the...
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Science: What Is the Carbon Cycle?
Students examine the carbon cycle while identifying its sources, sinks, and release agents. Using magazines and newspapers, groups of students design collages illustrating the carbon cycle. Finally, they write responses to several...
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Snow Science
Students investigate how efficient different substances are at melting snow. Students collect and analysis data.
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Kinetic Molecular Theory
Students analyze and evaluate evidence that matter is made of tiny particles. They observe a series of phenomena involving solids, liquids, and gases to make inferences about the spacing, interactions and relative kinetic energies of the...
Kenan Fellows
Sensors in Chemistry
The Environmental Protection Agency monitors sensors to track air pollution and set clean air standards. Enthusiastic young scientists use similar sensors to gather data in their area and then apply the gas laws and conservation of...
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Chromatography
Eighth graders observe a compound and separate it into its component parts. In this chromatography lesson students complete and activity that demonstrates how mixtures can be separated into components.
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Grow an Alum Crystal
What an exciting lab experiment to conduct with your high school chemistry class! Crystals are formed naturally in the environment. However, allow your blossoming chemists to create their own unique crystals using alum and...
Virginia Department of Education
Soap, Slime, and Creative Chromatography
Do you think chromatography paper suffers from separation anxiety? Young chemists make soap, slime, silly putty, and experiment with chromatography in this lesson. The material includes clear instructions for each experiment along with...