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Stoichiometry is Easy
Most students, and many of my (now former) colleagues, find stoichiometry to be one of the most challenging topics in a first year (and yes, even a second year) chemistry class. But my students and I...
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Conceptual Chemistry
In a recent contribution to ChemEd X "Stoichiometry is Easy", the author states that he has "vacillated over the years between using an algorithmic method, and an inquiry-based approach to teaching...
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The Mystery of Matter: Search for the Elements
TV and movie screens today offer us a desperate fight against crazy-fast zombies, a peek into celebrities’ lives where truth is often stranger than fiction, million-dollar game shows, and more. Can...
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Is the MSDS Sheet a useful document for a chemistry teacher?
Whenever a serious incident takes place in a school chemistry laboratory or classroom, fire and safety officers often pontificate on the incident by quoting the Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)....
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A Simple, yet Dramatic Chemistry Experiment with Ping Pong Balls
Cellulose nitrate (also known as nitrocellulose or guncotton) is a very flammable substance that is formed by reacting cellulose (also known as dietary fiber) with a mixture of concentrated nitric and...
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Using Google Hangouts, an iPad and AirServer for an Online Review Session
"Mr. T, you should do a review session for us before our final exam using a Google Hangout." And that one sentence from a student of mine pushed me to try something new. In my IB Chemistry classes, we...
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NGSS Update #2
Happy December ChemEdX community! On December 2, 2014 I attended the second of three workshops on NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) through our local ISD (in Kalamazoo County it is known as...
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Observing a Chemical Reaction (NGSS Modified)
In a recent post, I indicated that I would make available the Chemical Reactions lab that I modified to meet NGSS guidelines. Enjoy!Concepts: In this lab, students will address the concepts of chemical...
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JCE 91.12—December 2014 Issue Highlights
Celebrating the International Year of CrystallographyThe December 2014 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education is now available online to subscribers. The December issue includes content on:...
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Liquid Nitrogen, Gas Laws and Rocket Science
By Tom Kuntzleman and Randy WildmanThe “bucket launch” is a fantastic experiment you can do if you have access to liquid nitrogen. See the video below:Depending upon conditions, we have observed the...
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New Year, New Format
Happy New Year!With a new calendar year comes perpetual snow days and eventually a new semester. The main theme of my most recent posts have dealt with taking a new approach with labs. Specifically,...
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A new semester begins!
Here we are, starting another new semester! We call it the spring semester at our institution, but there is snow everywhere here! I am excited to report that I did use the activity Change You Can...
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ACS - Hach Grant 2015
The founders of the Hach company established the Hach Scientific Foundation in 1982. One of the programs that has emerged from this foundation is the High School Chemistry Grant Program. This grant is...
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Sowing the Seeds of Science
“On the third day of Christmas, my mailman brought to me… three gardening catalogs.” Jumping the gun? Or marketing genius? The doldrums after the holiday were a perfect time for these pages with their...
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JCE 92.01—January 2015 Issue Highlights
A New Year with a New Volume of ResourcesThe January 2015 issue marks the start of the 92nd volume of the Journal of Chemical Education and is now available online. This issue features colorful...
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The Only Thing Constant in Life is Change
Wow! Night one of the semester we did the activity Change You Can Believe In. It was my second time facilitating, so I did a much better job of directing students when they asked questions and it went...
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ChemEd 2015 Abstract Submission is Open
The Abstract Submission System for ChemEd 2015 is now open!This biennial conference is the largest of its kind, bringing together dedicated educators involved in high school and introductory chemistry...
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ChemEd Legacy Award (CELA) Scholarship
The CELA Scholarship is offered to help first-time attendees and presenters develop their knowledge and skills in chemical education, the ChemEd 2013 Conference committee has sponsored the 2015 ChemEd...
View ArticleK-8 Resources from the Chemical Educational Foundation
Recently, I was introduced to Larry Sernyk who is engaged with implementation of the Chemical Educational Foundation (CEF) educational programs in Indiana. He shared with me some of the exciting...
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App review – Cymbal by PhoneApp.com
In my high school chemistry classes, I stress the use of units and the use of written chemical formulas to be represented properly. It is important to me that when a student expresses the formula of a...
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