Chemistry – Science Teaching tips from Lee Trampleasure

February 4, 2023

Ionic bonding pies

Here’s a great ionic bonding activity shared on the National Chemistry Teachers Facebook page. Students are exposed to valance electrons and matching for 1:1 ionic compounds. Two sizes are provided: One full page pies, and one with six pies on a page. Here is the PDF template.

Bonding/Chemistry Comments: 0

May 20, 2019

Penny Diffusion Lab

Using penny mint marks to model gas diffusion.

Chemistry/Modeling/Science Education Comments: 0

February 26, 2017

Videos of building molecules, and showing chemical reactions, with candy and toothpicks

This post includes a couple of videos to provide students with examples of how to solve a couple of tasks in chemistry. One is “building chloromethane” and the other is “Ester synthesis from acetic acid and ethanol.”

Chemistry/Science Education Comments: 0

January 26, 2017

Modeling Instruction and NGSS: Energy as a Crosscutting Concept

Notes from a talk on Modeling Instruction and energy as a Crosscutting Concept.

Chemistry/Modeling/Physics/Science Education Comments: 0

December 2, 2016

The periodic spiral of the elements

Video of a periodic table rotating to show that the periodic table is not flat; that the Alkali metals are next to the Noble gasses.

Chemistry Comments: 0

November 22, 2016

Excel spreadsheet for calculating molar masses and percent composition

Over a decade ago I made a Quatro-Pro spreadsheet to make quick calculations from masses on the periodic table. Well, now Excel rules the roost, so I created a similar version using Excel. The fundamental element of the spreadsheet is that the cell with each mass is given a name that is the symbol for the element. So, for example,...

Chemistry/Science Education Comments: 2

June 11, 2016

Physics/Chemistry of Espresso Machines: Part 1

Here’s an activity based on observing espresso machines in action. Watch the following video showing the milk steaming container (with a short sidetrack to the espresso pot). What do you notice about the milk as it steams? Can you explain what is happening? Here are some details of how this espresso machine works: The water boiling tank is filled about...

Chemistry/Physics Comments: 0

July 31, 2015

How close are you? The “Why” behind Percent Error

There’s an old saying, “Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.” People would say this in response to someone saying “Well, I was close.” So, why does close count in horseshoes and hand grenades, and why is this the introduction to a science paper? Horseshoes: If you’ve never played before (I bet most of you haven’t), the goal is...

Chemistry/Math education/Modeling/Physics/Science Education Comments: 0

March 27, 2014

If a nucleus is full of positively charged protons, why doesn’t it fly apart?

In my physical science class this week, I realized the textbook was introducing the structure of the atom and positive and negative charges, but not answering addressing the clear question that follows the presented information is “what the heck keeps all those protons together in the nucleus?” The book does get around to the nuclear forces, but not until many...

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Category: Chemistry