Lab Safety and Toxic Chemicals

Lab Safety and Toxic Chemicals How can we help students work safely with toxic chemicals? What IS a “toxic chemical” anyway?   I taught science for about 10 years before even thinking about toxic chemicals. Then, one summer. I got an internship in the materials directorate at WPAFB. There, I learned what toxicity really is, […]

Science Scavenger Hunts for Biology and Chemistry

A few decades ago, I wrote a scavenger hunt for my AP Chem students to do After The Test. It’s gone through many iterations, and has been modified for a general chemistry class. A Biology version soon followed. It’s a great end-of-the-year activity as students must apply what they’ve learned all year and make connections among several concepts.

Holiday Hardtack Candy – A Chemistry Lab

It’s December. School is crazy – assemblies, upcoming exams. Kids are crazy. Life is crazy. You’re wishing the last week would go by quickly and smoothly. Students are just wishing for some fun.

So – what can you do with Chemistry classes for a fun winter holiday celebration?

Make hardtack candy.

Learning Ions

Somewhere during the first few years of teaching chemistry, I decided to ask students to memorize the formulas for common ions. I don’t remember why I did this.