Two facilitators and two learners wearing goggles use colorful felt strips to layer bubbles upon each other

Chemistry

Chemistry hands-on activities and professional learning resources for informal science educators.

Hands-on Activities

Group of learners examine color diffusion on various papers

Chemistry is Colorful

In this activity, learners try to solve the mystery of which ink came from what marker by using colorful paper chromatography.

two learners and a facilitator watch a soapy solution with dry ice make a giant bubble filled with smoke

Sublimation Bubbles

In this activity, learners explore sublimation by capturing carbon dioxide gas in soapy bubbles sublimated from dry ice.

Chemistry oil spill activity materials with dye absorbent cups and tongs

Cleaning Oil Spills with Chemistry

In this activity, learners will experiment with different methods of cleaning up a model oil spill.

Chemistry Makes Scents

In this activity, learners will use their nose to explore the differences between chemicals with similar structures and use large molecule models to visualize the structural differences.

Two learners and a caregiver smile as they observe a small toy in a vacuum chamber

Molecules in Motion

In this activity, learners experiment with putting various objects in a small vacuum chamber and explore how the materials behave and change when the air in the chamber is removed.

Three learners and a facilitator compare their dye colors to a PH scale

Nature of Dye

In this activity, learners create their own dyes and art while exploring how chemicals interact.

A facilitator loads a small plastic tube with fizzing solution that will pop the cap off in front of an audience of learners

Rocket Reactions

In this activity, learners experiment with finding the best mix of "rocket fuel" by making miniature baking soda and vinegar "rockets" that shoot plastic caps into the air.

Two learners measure out water into a beaker

What’s in the Water

In this activity, learners investigate what chemicals and compounds can be found in a sample of water using a variety of tools and techniques.

Gum and Chocolate

In this activity, learners practice observation and prediction skills as they experience an interesting chemical reaction in their mouths by chewing chocolate and gum at the same time.

Rocket Reactions

In this activity, learners experiment with finding the best mix of "rocket fuel" by making miniature baking soda and vinegar "rockets" that shoot plastic caps into the air.

Group of learners playing the card game with facilitators

Atoms to Atoms Card Game - training guide and materials

In this training exercise, learners will play a game where they assign descriptive terms to chemistry-related phrases and discuss why they feel that way.

Exploring Fabrication - Electroplating

In this activity, learners coat a nickel coin with nanometer-thin layers of copper using the electroplating process.

Build a Battery

In this activity, learners learn build their own batteries with metal and felt washers.

Battery Stack

In this activity, learners investigate how to make a voltaic pile, the first kind of battery.

Learner holds up an atomic structure model of graphene

Carbon

Elemental carbon has many different structural forms including graphite, diamond, carbon nanotubes and buckyballs. The arrangement of atoms at the nanoscale dramatically impacts a material’s macroscale properties and behavior. Hands-on activities explore: observable phenomena such as conductivity of graphite; molecular model-building of different forms; and how new technology may affect society.

Event Planning and Safety

Children and and facilitator examining color changes on a piece of paper

Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry Event Planning and Partnership Guide

Event planning guide and professional development resources to prepare staff and volunteers to host your Let's Do Chemistry event.

Let's Do Chemistry safety guide cover showing children using liquid droppers

Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry Safety Guide

Professional development training tool to prepare staff and volunteers to facilitate the Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry activities.

National Chemistry Week

National Chemistry Week is a community based program of the American Chemical Society (ACS). NISE Network has compiled a set of resources and activities suitable for National Chemistry Week, Chemists Celebrate Earth Week, and chemistry events.

Annual Events

Chemists Celebrate Earth Week (April)
The American Chemical Society (ACS) sponsors this annual event focusing on the role of chemistry in creating a better world. Resources include in person and virtual events, experiences, and activities.
- https://www.acs.org/ccew
- https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/outreach/ccew.html
National Chemistry Week (October)
- ACS National Chemistry Week website: www.acs.org/ncw
- NISE Network National Chemistry Week resources https://www.nisenet.org/ncw
- ACS National Chemistry Week style guide
- Find a National Chemistry Week event in your area
- Find a National Chemistry Week Coordinator in your area

More Resources

ACS Chemistry resources: https://www.acs.org/education/resources.html
Fusion Science Theater: https://storyformscience.com/fst
Beyond Benign: https://www.beyondbenign.org/
Reactions: Everyday Chemistry videos and infographics
American Chemical Society Celebrating Chemistry publication

Finding Experts

See the "Chemistry and Physics" section of the Working with STEM Experts: A Guide for Educators in Museums and Other Informal Learning Settings
American Chemical Society (ACS) potential collaborators

Kits of Activities

Childrens using Nature of Dye chemistry activity with tools and glassware

Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry Kit

Activities and professional development resources designed to stimulate interest, sense of relevance, and feelings of self-efficacy about chemistry.

Educator and children exploring hydrophobic properties of lotus leaf and nano nano pants in NanoDays activity

NanoDays Kit

Public programs, hands-on activities, and professional development resources about nanoscale science, engineering, and technology and their impact on society.

Stage Presentation

Pots on a kitchen stovetop next to vegetables on a kitchen counter

Kitchen Chemistry

In this stage presentation, learners discover the complex chemistry behind a seemingly simple bowl of spaghetti, and recognize the recognize the science that we practice every day in our very own home.

Training Resources

An educator wearing goggles posed at a table with soap, water, and dry ice, ready to record a how-to video for the Sublimation Bubbles activity

Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry training videos

Training videos for each of the Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry hands-on activities.

Two girls and an educator building models of molecules

Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry Facilitator Training Materials

Professional development training tools and videos to prepare staff and volunteers to facilitate the Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry activities.

Group of museum staff training for chemistry event

Let's Do Chemistry Train-the-Trainer Workshop Resources

A collection of workshop resource to support modifying and facilitating activities to increase participants' interest, relevance, and self-efficacy in chemistry.

Let’s Do Chemistry Train-the-Trainer Online Workshop Resources

ChemAttitudes, a collaborative project between the NISE Network and American Chemical Society, used a design-based research approach to develop a learning framework and a kit of hands-on informal educational activities to stimulate interest, a sense of relevance, and feelings of self-efficacy.

Screenshot of a young learner in a pink jacket measuring out granules in a beaker

Let's Do Chemistry! Changing Attitudes about Chemistry Video

Video for educators and scientists summarizing the ChemAttitudes project and Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry activities and events.

screenshot of a video opening with a live crowd seated in a theater with an overlay opening title "Chem-Attitudes"

Chem-Attitudes with Dr. Braxton Hazelby facilitation training video

Promotional materials for Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry activities including a facilitation training video.

Let's do Chemistry Guide Design Strategies and Facilitation Techniques to Encourage Positive Attitudes Toward Learning Chemistry in Museums and Informal Settings cover

Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry Professional Development and Training Materials; Framework and Strategies Guide

Professional development training tools and orientation slides to prepare staff and volunteers to facilitate the Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry activities.

Framework and Strategies

Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry Professional Development and Training Materials; Framework and Strategies Guide

Professional development training tools and orientation slides to prepare staff and volunteers to facilitate the Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry activities.

Recorded Online Workshops

Online Workshop Recording: Bust out that Chemistry kit for National Chemistry Week 2021 - Fast or Slow...Chemistry Makes It Go!

Online professional development workshop recording about National Chemistry Week and how to engage audiences through events (2021).

Online Workshop Recording: Making Chemistry Matter to Your Public Audiences - Using Hands-on Activities to Stimulate Interest, Relevance, and Self-efficacy

Online professional development workshop recording.

Online Workshop Recording: Explore Science: Let’s Do Chemistry Kit & Celebrate National Chemistry Week (October 21-27, 2018)!

Online professional development workshop recording (2018).

Online Brown-Bag: How to Host a National Chemistry Week Event (Recorded)

October 1, 2014

The NISE Net runs a series of online brown-bag conversations focused on helping partners share their work and learn from others in the Network. The aim of the online brown-bag conversations is to increase the number of professional development opportunities...

Promotional Graphics

Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry logos

Promotional materials for Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry including logos in multiple formats.

Screen shot of a young learner about to pop a bubble

Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry Promo Video

Promotional video for Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry events.

Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry promotional materials—ads, posters, and banners

Promotional materials for Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry activities including logos, colors, and graphics in multiple formats.

American Chemical Society National Chemistry Week logos and style guide

Promotional materials and Logos from the American Chemical Society (ACS) including National Chemistry Week (NCW) and Chemists Celebrate Earth Day in multiple formats.