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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.

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.
Adult and children sensing and discussing odors in Chemistry Makes Scents activity

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 Chemistry activity - child holding piece of chocolate

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.
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.
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.
Hands holding wires connected to a battery over container of liquid in Exploring Fabrication - Electroplating activity.

Exploring Fabrication - Electroplating

In this activity, learners coat a nickel coin with nanometer-thin layers of copper using the electroplating process.
Young learner experimenting with washers to build a battery

Build a Battery

In this activity, learners learn build their own batteries with metal and felt washers.
Mary Shelly, her monster, and visitors using the battery stack activity

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.

Annual Events

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 logo

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

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.