November 2014

Featured Article

Resource Feature

Magic Bubble

Read about a lesson designed by a teacher that introduces students to particle diagrams via the process of dissolving.

Resource Features

Lessons by teachers with their inspiration for the activity or tips for how to implement the lesson.

Access is an AACT member benefit. A Cracking Good Reaction

Eliminate safety concerns of cracking hydrocarbons in a classroom setting by doing the reaction with a microscale set up.

Classroom Commentary

Reflections and perspectives by teachers about topics that affect chemistry education.

Access is an AACT member benefit. Getting into Action

A veteran teacher shares insight on how to align objectives with learning activities and resources.


Access is an AACT member benefit. AP Chemistry for All

AP Chemistry should be open to any student who meets the bare-minimum prerequisites and is willing to take on a rigorous, challenging course.


Access is an AACT member benefit. Access to Opportunity: Limitations to Equity in Science Education

Access to quality science education varies greatly for students across the nation, creating gaps that restrict options for many students in postsecondary education and careers. Commitment to quality science education, supported by creative, collaborative efforts with community partners, is essential to narrow these access gaps for the good of our students and our nation.

Nuts & Bolts

Functional tips you can implement in your classroom.

Access is an AACT member benefit. Uncovering Student Thinking through the Science Literacy Framework

You can borrow tricks of the trade from literacy to create dynamic lessons to increase student understanding.


Strategies for Increasing Student Engagement

Increase student engagement and promote critical-thinking skills through positive student–teacher relationships, chemical demonstrations, and student discussions.


Access is an AACT member benefit. Learning Electron Configuration via POGIL

Are your students struggling with learning electron configurations? This POGIL activity can help.


Access is an AACT member benefit. Demonstrations and Good Pedagogy

Given recent accidents involving methanol, are traditional, teacher-performed, passive-student demonstrations best?

In My Element

Stories about teachers finding their way to the chemistry classroom.

Access is an AACT member benefit. My Late Love of Chemistry

My relationship with chemistry changed as I began teaching. I am one of two science teachers at the junior high and high school in my rural public school in Russia, OH.

Teacher 2 Teacher

We Asked on Twitter:

How do you teach the periodic table so it's interesting and engaging to students? #teachPTOE
@AACTconnect

You answered:

Students see many elements first hand with a kit from @FlinnScientific Then Element election with posters/speeches.
@george1799

I #teachPTOE using #periodictableofvideos and #TheoGray 's The Elements book and apps.
@RRrountre

Submit an Article

Have an idea you want to share with the chemistry education community? Submit an article to Chemistry Solutions!

Explore past issues of Chemistry Solutions

*Full access to Chemistry Solutions is an AACT member benefit. Unlocked articles are open to members and nonmembers.

Not an AACT member? Join today.

Editorial

It's All Right if You Don't Know, Just Be Safe!

Safety is always a primary focus for AACT. Every activity available on our website has a section devoted to safety. Some precautions may seem obvious, but they are there to avoid incidents like the ones we’ve recently heard about.

Simulation

Comparing Attractive Forces

In the November 2014 issue, students explore the different attractive foreces between pairs of molecules by dragging the "star" image. In the accompanying activity, students investigate different types of intermolecular forces (London dispersion and dipole-dipole). In the analysis that follows the investigation, they relate IMFs (including hydrogen bonding) to physical properties (boiling point and solubility).

Chemistry Fun

Access is an AACT member benefit. Chemistry Fun

We asked you to write in your own caption for the comic below.