Chemical Mystery #11: Too hot to boil?!
Tom Kuntzleman | Fri, 03/02/2018 - 11:04
What happens if you place metal that is glowing orange-hot into some water? Watch this video and find out!
high school
Temperature Experiments with the Scrub Daddy Sponge
Tom Kuntzleman | Wed, 02/21/2018 - 10:59
What happens if you cool a Scrub Daddy sponge in liquid nitrogen (or dry ice) and subsequently strike it with a hammer? Let's find out!
Acid Base Speed Dating
Kristen Drury | Tue, 02/20/2018 - 14:22
The unit of acids and bases is difficult for most students in Advanced Placement Chemistry. The variety of various calculations can be overwhelming. The Acid Base Speed Dating Activity engages students in completing a series of problems. Each student is assigned a specific solution and then determines their individual pH to complete their personal “Solution Biography.” Then the speed dating begins! For each date, the students need to find a specific match and determine their combined pH value.
Argument Driven Inquiry in Chemistry
Chad Husting | Sun, 02/18/2018 - 07:58
Have you used the Argument Driven Chemistry book or resources? Read more about it here.
Break the Ice with Mystery Blocks
Stephanie O'Brien | Thu, 02/15/2018 - 20:00
In an effort to align my lessons with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), I have tried to take the content I have traditionally taught, and shift the design to focus on student engagement with the science and engineering practices outlined in the standards. For the topic of heat transfer I re-packaged the ice melting blocks discrepant event as a NGSS investigative phenomena.
Teaching Moles through Beans
Chad Husting | Sat, 02/10/2018 - 18:04
The concept of the mole has always been a challenging topic for myself and my students. The challenge comes in part when we try to imagine 6.02 x 1023 of anything. Another challenge for some students is the math and theory behind this number and concept. I have tweaked an activity to help guide my students to an understanding of these concepts.
A simple method to measure the wavelength of light
Tom Kuntzleman | Sun, 02/04/2018 - 10:02
A simple laboratory experiment in which students simply measure the wavelength of light is described. An LED light, diffraction glasses, and a meterstick are the only required materials.
Richard Feynman on "Why?" Questions
Lowell Thomson | Fri, 01/26/2018 - 06:15
In this blog post I will discuss an interview with Dr. Richard Feynman relating to magnets that explores the concept of "why?" questions in science. You will find a links to a blog post and a transcript of the interview along with ideas for how I use the video in IB Chemistry.
The case of aluminium metal in single replacement REDOX reactions
Andres Tretiakov | Sun, 01/21/2018 - 16:36
I have tried many different methods to demonstrate or perform displacement reactions over the years with mixed results regarding one particular metal, aluminium. Based upon my experience, the behavior of aluminium in displacement reactions often confuses students.
Mass Spectrometer Model
Chad Husting | Wed, 01/17/2018 - 18:01
My students just finished an activity about isotopes. Each year there is always one or more student who ask about the mass of isotopes. How do scientists solve for that mass experimentally?