Games & Puzzles

Have you ever noticed that sometimes the best way to learn is by having a little fun? In my classroom, we've discovered that brain breaks can turn abstract concepts like gas laws into something tangible and memorable.

Imagine a classroom where the usual hum of lectures is replaced by excited chatter: "I hope I didn't get sodium again," one student mutters, while another laughs and says, "Bruh, there better be no nitrates between us!" This lively scene is all thanks to "Solubility Showdown," a brain break game I created to make solubility rules come alive for my stude

Imagine the lively hum of a classroom suddenly bursting into laughter and friendly competition as students engage in a spirited game of rock-paper-scissors. But this isn't just any game; it's the Ion Chip Challenge, a clever and engaging way I help my students grasp the tricky concepts of ions in chemistry.

As educators, we are always looking for ways to make complex concepts more accessible and memorable. In the early 2000s, I attended the Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (BCCE), where I learned about a brilliant brain break activity from renowned chemistry teacher Lee Marek.

The decade from 2000 to 2009 is one that brings back memories for most of the ChemEd X readers, whether they be teachers or students. The current events, popular songs, movies, books, sports figures and events in our own lives are still alive in our memories.

I enjoy incorporating quick brain break games into my chemistry classes to keep things exciting. Recently, while brainstorming ways to spice up a lecture on potential energy versus interparticle distance graphs, I stumbled upon a great idea for a brain break: magnetic chess!

March Madness isn't just for basketball fans! With a little twist, Chemistry teachers can bring the excitement of this tournament into their classrooms. In this blog post, I'll outline our annual engaging March Madness-inspired project where students create persuasive presentations on the deadliest chemical elements.

A major scientific event that occurred in the 1990’s was the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope. While many will link the telescope with identifying and studying deep space objects, it also has strong aspects of chemistry. The Hubble space telescope has two spectrometers on it: the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) that was installed in 1997, a

The 1980’s were dotted with key, history changing events. The Berlin Wall, separating east and west, fell; India’s first female prime minister, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her body guards; the first mobile phone was introduced; The Space Shuttle Challenger was launched from Cape Canaveral and exploded right after takeoff, killing seven astron