American Chemical Society
Investigating the Line
Note that this lesson is best paired with the preceding lesson in the unit. In that lesson, elementary physical scientists observed that the color coating of M&Ms® candies do not mix when dissolved off of the chocolate surface. Now...
Curated OER
pH and Red Cabbage Juice
Students review properties of materials and define what pH tells them about matter. In this pH levels lesson, students determine whether materials are acids or bases using indicator substances.
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The Influence of Carbon Dioxide on the Chemistry of Soda
Learners 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.
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Acids and Alkalis
This PowerPoint progresses slide-by-slide through all the facts you would want to deliver about acids, alkalis, salts, and the related lab tests. Each slide has one or two facts about a physical or chemical property or behavior. The...
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Soil Porosity, Moisture Content, pH, and Density
This lab activity does not have to be done with AP environmental scientists. It can also be done with middle to high school earth scientists. The procedures aren't complex. Learners determine the density of dry and wet sand in order to...
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Devising a Set of Experiments to Test Water for Dissolved Substances
Students work together to test water samples for pollutants. They design data tables to collect and record their observations. They complete discussion questions to end the lesson.
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Chemical Equilibrium
In this chemical equilibrium learning exercise, students review hydration, dissociation, and colligative properties. Students also review Le Chatelier's principle. This learning exercise has 15 short answer questions and 12 problems to...
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Mystery Paint
Students use the scientific method to determine the properties of various kinds of paints, use collected data to identify paint samples that are not properly labeled and use proper science safety techniques while working with chemical...
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Fuel Mystery Dis-Solved
Students describe how temperature and surface area exposure affect the rate at which fuel is consumed. They explain why engineers want to know about the properties of a fuel when designing rockets. They create a bar graph of result data.
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Chemistry: Balancing Chemical Equations
Eighth graders practice balancing chemical equations. In this chemistry lesson, 8th graders explain why it is necessary to balance equations. They complete practice worksheets individually.
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Trapping CO2
Students investigate climate change and how the properties of carbon dioxide and methane play a part. In this climate lesson students use a chemical reaction to trap CO2 and methane.
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Midnight Dumpers
Students explain how pollution affects ground water. They participate in a simulation to discover the location of an illegal dump. Students explore the monetary benefits, risk and environmental concerns are factors in business decisions.
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Weathering and Soil Formation
A set of 27 slides systematically shows how weathering, erosion, and deposition contribute to soil formation. Both chemical and mechanical weathering are described, as are resulting soil layers and properties. There is no longer any need...
NOAA
Ocean Zones
How can organisms light up in water? Bioluminescence is light produced in a chemical reaction that can occur in an organism's body. First, learners determine what happens to light/color as you move into the deep ocean. In groups, they...
Cornell University
Polymerization
Explore condensation polymerization and additive polymerization through hands-on activities. Young scholars first model additive polymerization with paperclips. They finish the activity by using condensation polymerization to create a...
Curated OER
The Earth is a Changin'
Pupils view examples of different types of erosion. In this erosion lesson plan, students discuss the different types of erosion and how erosion changes Earth. Pupils explore erosion and the effect it has on engineering.
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Identifying Acids and Bases
Sixth graders observe the physical and chemical change that can occur in an acid and a base. In this acids and bases lesson plan, 6th graders use cabbage juice to identify, compare, and contrast acids and bases.
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Water Ph
Eighth graders study the concepts of acids, bases, salts and neutralization. They discuss steam adoption program, acid rain and other ecological implications. They use indicators to obtain pH values of household chemicals and to...
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Disposable Diaper Comparison and Mystery Powder Identification
Students investigate which diaper is the most absorbent. In this chemistry instructional activity, students calculate how much water is absorbed by diapers. They identify an unknown powder based on physical and chemical properties.
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Wet Pennies
Learners conduct a simple test to determine how many drops of water, rubbing alcohol and vegetable oil can be placed on a penny before spilling over. They consider how varying surface tensions allow for different amounts of each liquid...
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Hot Cans and Cold Cans
Learners investigate the physics of heating and cooling through conduction, convection, and radiation. Working in groups, they determine the best way to cool a can of water and warm a can of water. Temperature is taken at five minute...
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Superballs
Students mix two different solutions to become more familiar with molecules and polymers. For this chemistry lesson, students decide whether or not the reaction between two solutions is chemical or physical. Students then observe the...
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Experimenting with Physical Changes
Fourth graders explore physical changes. They discuss that physical change is a change in size, shape, or state of matter of a substance. Students explore what change takes place when two substances can dissolve each other. They observe...
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Latent Heat and Clouds
Students explore latent heat and how it relates to clouds in the atmosphere. In this earth science lesson plan students investigate how clouds are formed. Students examine clouds and the water cycle.