K-12 Grade Chemistry Lessons

Are you a chemistry teacher? You know a memorable chemistry lesson is a great way to reinforce concepts and foster a lasting interest in science. Share your favorite chemistry lesson plan or browse ideas submitted by other chemistry teachers.

This lesson plan gives students hands-on experience with the scientific method. The scientific method lesson plan is appropriate for any science course and can be customized to suit a wide range of educational levels.

This chemistry lesson plan covers essential acids and bases terminology and offers students hands-on experience testing common home chemicals to determine whether they are acids, bases or neutral. Only household materials are required for this lesson.

You can teach yourself general chemistry with this step-by-step introduction to the basic concepts.

Lab reports are an essential part of all laboratory courses and usually a significant part of your grade. If your instructor gives you an outline for how to write a lab report, use that. Here's a format for a lab report you can use if you aren't sure what to write or need an explanation of what to include in the different parts of the report.

Get essential facts about atoms and the basics of atomic theory, work problems to test your skills, then take a quiz to make sure you understand the concepts.

Learn about the periodic table of the elements. Find out about the history of the periodic table, how the elements are organized, and how to use the periodic table to predict the behavior of unfamiliar elements.

Introduce students to chemical reactions and experimentation using common materials and baggies.

Are you confused about atoms, elements, protons, neutrons, electrons, isotopes, and ions? Here's a basic look at the model of the atom. It's a great overview for kids or anyone looking to grasp the essentials of atomic theory.

Carbon is an element that is essential for life. The carbon cycle describes the storage and exchange of carbon between the Earth's biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere.

A chemistry scavenger hunt is an educational game where you find items that match a description. It's a great way to learn key concepts. Here's a list of chemistry scavenger hunt clues and items that match.

Here are the instructions for making the classic chemical volcano. This demonstration uses ammonium dichromate to produce 'Vesuvius fire', with glowing sparks and a cone of deep green ash.

Did you know that Avogadro's number isn't a mathematically derived unit. The number of particles in a mole of a material is determined experimentally. This easy method uses electrochemistry to make the determination.

This is an index of famous chemists and other scientists who made important contributions to the field of chemistry, arranged alphabetically according to the scientist's last name.

Flash cards can be a great study aid. You can use them to help memorize facts, lists, and structures as well as to reinforce important concepts. Here's how to prepare and use flash cards to help study chemistry.

Measure the ripening of fruit from exposure to the plant hormone ethylene by testing starch levels with an iodine solution. This easy experiment can be performed on several types of fruit, such as apples, pears, and bananas.

Learn about the chemistry behind the cleaning power of detergents.

Have you ever wanted to color fire? Here are simple, nontechnical instructions for making your own colored flames. Add extra interest to your fireplace or campfire!

Do you want to grow crystals, but you aren't sure where to start or what to do to make sure your crystals turn out well? Here's some basic information on crystal growing. I've provided links to recipes so you can start growing crystals. These instructions are general, so if your recipe calls for something special (like no vibrations or dark), be...

Make a tasty treat and learn about freezing point depression, too! All you need are some basic ingredients and two ziploc baggies. It's easy, fun, and educational.

Make your own pH indicator solution! Red cabbage juice indicator is easy to make, exhibits a wide range of colors, and can be used to make your own pH paper strips.

Use this chemistry lesson plan to help students use the scientific method to design experiments to identify the components of an unknown mixture.

Use dry ice to freeze bubbles solid so that you can pick them up and examine them closely. You can use this project to demonstrate several scientific principles, such as density, interference, semipermeability, and diffusion.

Words have very specific meanings in chemistry and other sciences. Learn about the difference between a scientific law, hypothesis, and theory. Examples are provided for each term.

Get definitions and examples of the main states of matter: solids, liquids, gases, and plasma.

A course of study designed for classroom instruction.

Follow protein and carbohydrate synthetic and metabolic pathways.

Games to enhance familiarity with the elements. From The Learning Group.

Online elementary chemistry text. Includes a section on proper study habits.

Chemistry lessons, some with sound and motion.

Learning source for the Standard Model of the atom.

Learn about elements and the atomic structure. From the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility.

Debatable topics raised by developments in basic science.

An attractive site for all ages. Visit the MadSci Archives and the Edible/Inedible Experiments Archive.

Molecules and the ways math is used to describe and examine them.

Generation of gases for laboratory demonstrations. From Bruce Mattson, Creighton University.

Perform research with the Advanced Light Source of the University of California at Berkeley.

Required reading for understanding the Standard Model.

Tutorials and experiments for science teachers includes information about the ChemCom curriculum of the American Chemical Society. From Patrick M. Gormley, Lapeer Community Schools.

Homemade models demonstrate scientific principles. From Simon Quellen Field.

Hundreds of single concept chemistry lessons available.

Introduction to every facet of snowflake formation. From Kenneth G. Libbrecht, California Institute of Technology.

Tutorials and experiments. From Ron Kurtus, School for Champions.