Scientific Measurement

This topic includes using and expressing measurements, units of measurement and solving basic conversion problems.

A critical Look at Units
A Critical Look at Units
// Sunday, May 18, 2025 • Michael Jansen
Introduction The proper and consistent use of units throughout calculations is of paramount importance in physical science. This should be inculcated in students from the first day of class. As chemistry educators, we must—without fail—model the proper, consistent use of units and significant figures.1
Teaching metric system with climate change
Incorporating Climate Change Into Lessons on Metric Prefixes
// Sunday, January 12, 2025 • Tom Kuntzleman
There’s some recently published research on climate change1 that you can easily incorporate into your next lesson on metric conversions and unit analysis. The article gives a report on ocean heat content (OHC) measurements.
preview image with text:"Introduction to the Metric System in Year 1 Chemistry" with balance, 10g calibration weight
Introduction to the Metric System in Year 1 Chemistry
// Thursday, February 15, 2024 • Kristen Drury
This summer I read a teaching philosophy changing book titled “Building Thinking Classrooms” by Peter Liljedahl. Although the book is written for mathematics, there are so many fresh ways of approaching teaching for any topic, many of which I have begun to implement this school year.
text over graduated cylinders: Confidence Level: Measurement and Significant Figures
Confidence Level: Measurement and Significant Figures Simplified
// Monday, March 27, 2023 • Michael Jansen
The concept of Measurement and Significant Figures can induce discomfort.1 This article and the associated resources take an empirical, logical approach to this important concept, which your students will understand, and dare I say, enjoy.
Puddle Chemistry
How Small is the Stuff that makes up Matter?
// Wednesday, October 19, 2022 • Chad Husting
One of my goals for my chemistry classes at the beginning of the year is to start with an engaging activity that is hands on and minds on. I hope for an activity that will meet the kids where they are at. I try for an activity that will not only engage them but try to set the tone for the year. I think I may have stumbled upon something t
sketch of chemistry with added words describing what chemists do
Scientific Reasoning Interactive Notebook Unit
// Thursday, July 7, 2022 • Nora Walsh
Ah, sweet summertime. The time when teachers are torn between relaxing and recharging, and beginning to do planning for next year in hopes of feeling more prepared for the school year.
students measuring the volume of the liquid in a 10mL graduated cylinder
Measurement, Uncertainty, and Significant Figures 
// Monday, November 11, 2019 • Ariel Serkin
One of the presentations I gave this summer was at the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators using my vocabulary sort as a framework to talk about Modeling InstructionTM.
CER whiteboard
Arguing Density
// Friday, November 23, 2018 • Stephanie O'Brien
In an effort to implement the science and engineering practices of the NGSS, I have tried to introduce argumentation as a practice into my chemistry courses.
measuring volume and mass of water
My First Lab of the Year
// Tuesday, August 22, 2017 • mamorgan@me.com
This was my first week of classes. It is the beginning of the 30th year that I have been a high school teacher and the 28th straight year I have been in the same physical classroom. Shockingly, all of those in the same school (yes I meant it to sound that way).
graph of mass vs volume
Density "POGIL-Like" Activity
// Monday, July 14, 2014 • Shelly Belleau
Although many students have been exposed to the concept of density before reaching my Chemistry class, I always start the year with this POGIL-like activity. This helps students start on the same page with their density understanding before we dive into more advanced chemistry concepts. It also helps us develop group roles and classroom norms for group work.