high school chemistry

Implementing the Claim, Evidence, Reasoning Framework in the Chemistry Classroom

Ben Meacham | Mon, 02/13/2017 - 09:10

For me, the first step toward teaching my students how to critically think about how they structured an argument or explanation was to implement the Claim, Evidence, Reasoning (CER) framework. While the premise behind CER isn’t anything new to the way science teachers already think, it provides an entirely different approach toward how students connect their experiences and previously learned content into something that is much more reflective of being scientifically literate.

Flinn Scientific and Beyond Benign Launch Partnership to Deliver Green Chemistry Learning Solutions to Science Educators

Kate Anderson | Fri, 02/10/2017 - 13:21

Beyond Benign, a national nonprofit, established in 2007 to equip educators, scientists, and citizens with the tools to teach and practice green chemistry to achieve a sustainable society, just announced a strategic partnership with Flinn Scientific.

Ionic Covalent Compounds and Card Sorts

Chad Husting | Thu, 02/02/2017 - 19:10

Card sorts are a great way to achieve a number of classroom objectives. They can be used as a review activity or they can be done during the middle of a lesson as a type of formative assessment. Sorts can encourage students to work with other students or can even be used as a type of exit ticket. I decided to use the strategy about two thirds of the way through a unit on covalent and ionic compounds and lewis structures. I knew there were items we did not cover in the sort but I was curious to see how they would approach these unknown topics.

Chemical Investigations of McCormick's Color From Nature Food Colors. Part 1: Sky Blue

Tom Kuntzleman | Tue, 01/31/2017 - 09:15

The chemistry of the Sky Blue dye found in McCormick's Color From Nature food colors is explored. This is part one of a three-part series in which the chemistry of McCormick's Color From Nature food colors is presented.

Creating an Organic Chemistry Reaction Pathways Flowchart as a Unit Summary

Lowell Thomson | Fri, 01/27/2017 - 22:43

For a recent unit on organic chemistry for my IB students, I tried something new. I gave them a handout with a list of organic compounds (by class/functional group) and a list of mechanisms and reaction types. Their task (in small groups), using either butcher paper or a large whiteboard, was to create a flow chart of reaction pathways.

Time required:

30-45 minutes

Chemical Connections to Climate Change

Tom Kuntzleman | Wed, 01/25/2017 - 11:11

It is becoming increasingly important for citizens to understand various concepts related to climate change and global warming. This post describes several chemical concepts that are pertinent to these issues, in the hopes that teachers of science and chemistry can introduce the topic of climate change into their classrooms and everyday discussions.

The Case of the Barking Dog

Doug Ragan | Tue, 01/24/2017 - 21:12

To grasp the concept of oxidation and reduction reactions, I have my high school students write half reactions to show the loss and gain of electrons by the substances being oxidized and reduced. To help with this concept, I developed a quick lab activity involving the reaction between magnesium metal and dilute hydrochloric acid, which in turn led to the students collecting the hydrogen gas and then testing for its presence.

Time required:

50 minutes

Mid-Year Reflections

MeyersChemistry | Tue, 01/24/2017 - 12:24

It’s the end of one semester and the beginning of another. Final exam week. For the first time in my teaching career, I had my grades caught up and posted prior to the beginning of final exams. This gave me time to reflect and plan ahead.

Building Models of Isomers

Michael A. Morgan | Sun, 01/22/2017 - 13:23

Students will build models of isomers while the instructor walks around from station to station to critique the models. If the model is incorrect, the students rebuild until they get it right. The paper that accompanies this assignment is very easy to grade.

Time required:

one 50 minute class

Hoffman Apparatus on the Go....

Chad Husting | Sun, 01/22/2017 - 08:01

There are many places online to build a DIY Hoffman apparatus. The ACS offers an electrolysis of water lesson that includes a hand made Hoffman apparatus(link is external) as part of a unit on energy that I used as a resource.