General Resources

MolView: An App to View Structural Formulas and Models

What is the best way for students to visualize compounds? From the traditional physical ball and stick models to the various online simulations the objective for all of these tools is to provide one with a visual for the different structures and patterns. This summer while facilitating a workshop, the participants and I discussed this question and while reviewing various representations we came across MolView.

Interactive Bonding Resources from PBS

One of the resources we have vetted is an interactive slideshow from PBS on both ionic and covalent bonds.  Teachers using Modeling Instruction will find these resources elucidate a model of electron behavior which adds to the particle story of matter we have been telling throughout the year. 

Four Ways to Fight Spring Fever

How can I engage my students (and myself) for the last half of the semester? I read recently that the human attention span in 2015 is 8.25 seconds(link is external), which is down from 2000’s 12-second span. Currently, we are just beneath goldfish, who can attend to one thought for 9 seconds. I’m not sure of the methods of the research study, and I maintain a level of healthy skepticism. However, I admit my thoughts often spring from topic to topic like a bubble gum machine bouncy ball.

Veritasium in the Modeling Classroom

Modeling InstructionTM is specifically designed so students construct meaning without being told what to think and I needed videos that aligned with this philosophy.  That’s when I ran across this TedEd talk with Dr. Derek Muller.

KWIPPED

KWIPPED is a highly efficient, no-cost resource for chemistry teachers looking to rent equipment for projects. If you need to source equipment that is too expensive to buy, KWIPPED.com is a great way to find short or long-term rentals that will fit your budget. 

Haber - The Father of Chemical Warfare

The  is a helpful resource for teachers that have interest in using the Haber video in their curriculum. Reading materials and lesson ideas are available. I recently used a lesson that my colleague created directly from the provided materials.  The lesson included some background reading, viewing the video, participating in an excellent discussion and a follow up writing assignment.