Even though chemistry is a cornerstone of scientific literacy--standng smack in the intersection of physics and biology--we haven't done a good job communicating either its importance or how interesting it is. This section gives a synopsis of chemistry as a more user-friendly unit for scientific inquiry.
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Simple phase change explorations build a “solid” foundation for later learning about molecules. Using water as the example, upper-elementary students participate in activities that introduce the idea of the arrangement of molecules in a solid, liquid, and gas and the idea that the mass of the ice doesn’t change when it melts into a liquid.
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Fifth-grade students use homemade plant-based acid/base indicators to learn about matter at an age-appropriate level and develop process skills. As a result of completing this lesson sequence the students should be able to perform many tasks using process skills such as observing chemical changes; identifying acids and bases by performing tests; classifying common household substances as acidic, basic (alkaline), or neutral; and developing a scheme for solving a performance-based scenario.
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This article discusses the Know-Learning-Evidence-Wonder (KLEW) chart, a modification on the Know-Want-Learn (KWL) chart. This new chart was developed to align itself with the National Science of Education Standards while also helping to alter the perception and to encourage science inquiry of all kinds in the classroom by highlighting the essential features of inquiry.
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Preschool children explore matter and complete a solution-making lesson in which they categorize substances (water, sugar, and lemon juice) and mix them together to make a change (lemonade).
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Working with young children and chemicals requires attention to safety. This article details the experiences of a third-grade teacher who used a “disaster” to create a hands-on inquiry that introduces children to chemistry safety during a third-grade acid/base exploration.
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There are a a number of indicators you can use to determine whether or not a chemical reaction has occurred. Among them are a change in color, the evolution of a gas, and the production or absorption of heat. To understand why any of these indicators work you must understand what is meant by a chemical reaction.
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Reflecting on a recent case study, this article discusses one district’s process for adopting a new science curriculum and how it revealed key issues in establishing and keeping high-quality elementary science programs. The author highlights problem areas in the creation and adoption of school district science curricula and offers suggestions to address them.
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Dissolving is as much about the substance doing the dissolving (the solvent) as it is about the substance being dissolved (the solute). Dissolving depends on the interaction between the molecules of solvents and solutes. This article looks at the molecular structure of water, the universal solvent and includes a corresponding activity.
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February is one of those months that is at the halfway point between the cold of the winter and the promise of the spring. It also offers a great time for students to begin to make initial observations about an area and then follow this area through the changes that will occur over the next several months. This month's column focuses on exploring your environment no matter where one resides--country, city, or suburb. A corresponding activity is included with this article.
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Chemistry explorations in early childhood classrooms often involve baking, mixing, or dissolving, during which students predict outcomes and try to replicate the results. The objective is to help students come to an understanding that even though we cannot see what is happening to cause a change, we can see that the change happens every time we follow a certain procedure. A corresponding activity is included with this article.
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Fourth-grade students gain a deeper understanding of the meaning of “properties” by evaluating and comparing play doughs. Students also hone their observation and reporting skills and enrich their vocabulary, integrating language arts into this activity.
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