Clik here to view.
The Intersection of Art and Chemistry
Last year I came across a link on Twitter regarding an art installation by Roger Hiorns in England titled “Seizure.” Some of you may have seen it too – a condemned flat in London was essentially sealed...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Why do we have to do chemical equations and calculations?
(A look at a workplace exposure limits found in MSDS sheets)IntroductionWhy do chemical equations and calculations? Well, so we can grade students in tests in exams. Calculations and chemical equations...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Simple, Small-Scale Dry Ice Explosions
A fun experiment to conduct when discussing phase diagrams is the melting of solid carbon dioxide (dry ice). To perform this experiment, place small pieces of dry ice (carbon dioxide) in a plastic...
View ArticleClik here to view.
I used to feel guilty about lecturing
In this age of scientific inquiry, molecular modeling, digital classrooms, and differentiation, I felt downright guilty about any teacher-centered time. My classroom is flipped after all. I’m not...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Doing, Writing, and Teaching Labs!
Labs! They have been the most overwhelming part of my career in chemistry. I felt the least prepared in this area when I began teaching and walked into my first lab as a teacher. Knowing all of the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
JCE 92.03—March 2015 Issue Highlights
Chemistry Education without BordersThe March 2015 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education is now available online to subsccribers. This issue features NMR spectroscopy; chemistry teaching from an...
View ArticleThe Model So Far...
Last night I had the pleasure of sitting down with one of the teachers who took my workshop on Modeling Instruction™ last summer. She is currently finishing up a Master’s degree in Education and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Summer PD for Teachers
With spring just around the corner and warmer weather approaching, I find that I’m in active summer preparation mode. This is the time of year when I’m trying to plan for the perfect summer balance...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Using Periodic Properties to Group Students for an Activity
Today in my IB Chemistry class we were reviewing the Born-Haber cycle. This has proven particularly challenging in the past so I wanted to try something a bit different and have the students review in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Conversations about Chemical Education
This semester I get to work with one of my high school students as she investitgates what it takes to be a chemistry teacher. She wrote the following blog post to describe her project... My name is...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How Does an Orange Peel Pop a Balloon? Chemistry, of Course!
By Tom Kuntzleman, Tori Talaski and Charles SchaererThere is a new experiment circulating the web. Check it out:Isn’t that cool? The juice from an orange peel causes a balloon to pop. When I first...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Chemistry of a Family-Style Dinner – Ideas Invited!
My good friend, an AP Literature teacher, inspires me to challenge my students (and myself) to think creatively. Students love her teaching style and line up to take her class. All the while, they say...
View ArticleClik here to view.
So You Think You Can Demo
So You Think You Can Demo Contest Overview and Description “So You Think You Can Demo” is a fun and educational contest sponsored by ChemEd committee members to allow chemical educators to have a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Great Lakes Bio Energy Teacher Training
Opportunities for teachers to explore topics in Bio Energy, collaborate with other teachers, perform research and develop/write curriculum.Time: Wednesday, April 1, 2015 - 16:16 to Friday, May 1, 2015...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Share Your Favorite Chemistry Demonstration!
I was quite excited to learn about the “So You Think You Can Demo” competition at the upcoming ChemEd 2015 conference. I enjoy learning about new chemistry demonstrations that I can perform for my...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Chemistry Olympiad
I have taught for almost 30 years and have attended my fair share of professional development. Many of these have been very good (ChemEd, BCCE, ACS, NSTA, and ICE) but nothing has been as motivating,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Using an iPad simulation and an online Java applet to help students...
There are occasionally discussions amongst educators about the efficacy of using technology in the classroom. Does it really make a difference? One train of thought is looking at the use of technology...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Periodic Table Board Game
Happy April!This week I am on spring break. Before spring break, my honors and regular Chemistry 1 classes made it through our third unit called “Periodic Table and Periodicity.” During this unit, we...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Modeling Training Opportunities Update
Since my last blog about modeling, there have been additional opportunities added for training. If you don't see a location that works for you on this list, check out the AMTA website.Arizona:Chemistry...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Representing the Macroscopic, Particulate, Symbolic, & Real World...
Last year while attending the Biennial Conference on Chemical Education at GVSU I had the opportunity to hear a talk that showed a video of a chemical demonstration showing the burning of...
View Article