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Especially JCE: May 2017
I’m not sure if it was my first exposure to the Diet Coke and Mentos geyser phenomenon, but it was the one with the biggest impact—EepyBird’s Extreme Mentos & Diet Coke video, first released in...
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Qualitative Analysis of IONS
So this time of year we are all thinking about what we will do with our AP Chem students until the end of the semester. Last year I wrote about a post AP independent study activity that I use dealing...
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Reduction of Permanganate Ion by Acids in Rhubarb, Apples, and Candy
By Andres Tretiakov and Tom KuntzlemanA classic experiment involves use of the permanganate ion (MnO4–) to test for the presence of oxalic acid (C2H2O4) in rhubarb stems. Oxalic acid reduces the...
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Acid, Base, pH and Food Chemistry
I try to examine activities an multiple levels. First on the list, I want to know if my students will be engaged and learn something. Second, how difficult is it for me as a teacher to actually pull it...
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Resource to Help You Combat Climate Science Denial
Are you are concerned about recent positions taken on climate change by political leadership in the United States? Do you agree with 97% of climate scientists who are convinced that human-caused...
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Especially JCE: June 2017
A voice piped up, “What if you tried it with a bigger marble?” I was thrilled to hear the third grader’s suggestion. It was a great extension to consider in the group experiment we were doing, but it...
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JCE 94.06 June 2017 Issue Highlights
Engaging Participation and Promoting Active LearningThe June 2017 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education is now available online to subscribers. Topics featured in this issue include: materials...
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New online tool: The Atomsmith Classroom Online
A bit of background to serve as an introduction.If you follow me on Twitter (@Thomsonscience) or read much from my blog here at ChemEd X: Thank you! And if you are in that category, you probably also...
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Using the ACS Exams in Your Classroom
Say the words standardized test to most educators and you will likely notice a minor gag reflex. While I completely sympathize with this reaction given the frequently labeled testing culture that’s...
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A Better Way to Organize Laboratory Equipment
I remember sitting in on Steve Sogo’s presentation and watching the video that accompanied his talk. As I watched the video, I saw something that didn’t necessarily have to do with the talk but...
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National Conference for Advanced POGIL Practitioners
What are we doing to help kids achieve? POGIL stands for "Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning". Over the years I have accidentally and somewhat intentionally been using POGIL activities....
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Creating a Classroom Culture - Call for Contributions
As many school districts are moving toward incorporating student-centered curriculum and pedagogy, many teachers have found that it can be difficult to initiate a classroom culture that encourages...
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Chemical Mystery #10: Out of the Blue!
It's almost time for the Fouth of July here in the United States of America. In honor of my country, I'd like to share the following chemical mystery, which involves the colors red, white, and blue:...
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Selling and Implementing Roles and Teamwork in the Classroom
What are we doing to help kids achieve?As mentioned in a previous blog, I just received a heavy dose of POGIL at NCAPP.The part about POGIL that I previously glossed over was the “Process”. I saw the...
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Chemical Thinking Interactives
As part of a two-week Chemistry Modeling Workshop™ in Houston, TX, I had the opportunity to read the Journal of Chemical Education article “When Atoms Want” by Vicente Talanquer of the University of...
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Solution to Chemical Mystery #10: Out of the Blue!
In Chemical Mystery #10, plastic straws are observed to “magically” change color when waved in the air. Check it out in the video below:This trick makes use of straws that contain thermochromic dyes,1...
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Increasing Access to Stoichiometry Through Differentiated In-Class Practice
In a recent post, I shared sample quiz questions as to how I have differentiated assessment within the mole unit. Here, I will share a specific multi-day sequence within the stoichiometry unit. I have...
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Soap Making
My first year teaching chemistry, I was looking for a soap-making lab or activity that I could run in my chemistry class with 25-30 students working at the same time. I usually do this activity right...
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Nerdy Science Shirt Friday
Over the past 30 years, numerous articles have been written about the importance of student teacher relationships. The National Education Association, NEA, offers advice for beginning teachers that...
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DIY Vapor Catalyzed Chemiluminescence
I recently watched a video in which a chemist (who goes by the nickname “NurdRage”) activated a chemiluminescent reaction by vapor deposition. You can see a short clip of this experiment below:Accessed...
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