Teacher Demo/Student Activity: Elephant’s Toothpaste

This demonstration is an entertaining way to introduce simple chemical reactions and the types of evidence that indicate the occurrence of chemical change, including the production of a gas. A link can be provided to the gas tests conducted in Grade 9 to help focus...

Student Activity: Formulas Poker

This activity can be an engaging way for students to visualize how ionic compounds are formed and where their formulas come from. Although it will take time to create the decks of cards the first time around, they can be reused year after year. This game can be used...

Teacher Demo: Invisible Ink

In this demonstration, a chemical reaction is used to make a hidden message visible. The demonstration illustrates an entertaining application of chemical reactions in toys and everyday objects. It is also an interesting way to start the discussion of acids and bases,...

Teacher Demo: Dancing Paper

In this demo, a polyethylene strip is charged by rubbing with wool. The charged strip is then used to make paper circles stand on their edges inside a Petri dish. This demo introduces students to the charging of materials by induction as opposed to charging by...

Teacher Demo/Student Activity: Red Cabbage Indicator

This demonstration illustrates the presence and importance of chemistry in everyday objects, including our food. It is an interesting way to start the discussion of acids and bases or to connect acids and bases to the pH scale and extend the discussion to acid-base...
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