STEAM Laboratory Activities for the Classroom: Focus on Chemistry

Book Synopsis: This manual contains 27 chemistry laboratory activities that can be used with middle or high school students. The labs are written to be as safe as possible with mostly common household materials. Some activities call for the use of a hot plate, which requires safety goggles to be worn and beaker tongs or heat gloves to be used.

For each lab, a page of teacher notes is provided to give background information for the activity. In some cases, this includes definitions of terms or things to watch out for during the lab experience. A "to the class" section gives suggestions on presenting the lab, which should be followed up by demonstrating the procedure. Analysis questions are available for each activity and other discussion items are also included on the teacher notes pages.

Most of the activities can be completed within a 40-minute block, not including discussion and write-ups for analysis. Lab times are provided for each activity, listed as "class periods" of 40 minutes.

In addition to activities, there are research tasks that can be used to further student understanding of the lab exercises.

The book is arranged in four chapters. Here is a selection of the activities.

The Scientific Method

• Predict and observe what happens when food coloring, oil, and water mix
• Define scientific terminology using common food items

Density

• Create a water column using food coloring and saltwater
• Build aluminum foil boats and test their buoyancy in different salinities

Molecular Properties

• Test the conductivity of various ionic and covalent solutions
• Create crystals from five different solutes to see which works best

Chemical Reactions

• Test the acidity of numerous liquids using sodium bicarbonate
• Test reaction kinetics to see how to speed up chemical reactions

This manual was compiled by a science teacher with 22 years of experience working with middle and high school students. Dr. Wolf received his PhD in Science Education in 2006. His background is in chemistry and physics.

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STEAM Laboratory Activities: Focus on Chemistry

• 27 classroom activities for middle and high school students

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