Students used plastic balances to physically "balance" a chemical equation, as an introduction to the idea. We used this to help understand conservation of mass and how chemists use equations. It was a great tool for teaching an reinforcing. If you try something similiar note that it requires all your molecule models be of the same make, as all like pieces need exactly like masses.
I was able to purchase these balances through a grant recieved from Zeta Beta, a local chapter of the DKG Sorority.
Students first dove into chemical reactions through baking cookies. They followed a recipie for the first batch, then chose an ingredient to remove for their second batch to investigate how it affected the chemical reaction/baking process. We got some pretty fun results, as we can see below!
The money for the toaster ovens used in this activity (and a few others!) was raised through DonorsChoose. Follows and future support would be greatly appreciated!
Cookies baking. Students made 4 per batch.
I believe this group took out the butter for their second batch.
Students built models of molecules with cardboard and craft material as a way to show what they had learned about atomic structure and ionic and covalent bonds. Helps me see where students are at while giving them room to express themselves. One of the ways I try to incorporate creativity (and tons of cardboard) into activities.
