Elementary chemistry lessons
In an effort to empower teachers and make chemistry education accessible, a valuable professional learning session titled "Chemistry in the Primary Classroom" is now available. Led by Greta Dromgool and the New Zealand Association of Primary Science Educators (NZAPSE), this session is designed to boost teacher confidence in teaching chemistry using simple, everyday resources.
The webinar is particularly beneficial for primary school teachers and junior secondary teachers looking to incorporate more practical chemistry into their curriculum. The session offers a variety of strategies to engage students with key chemistry concepts without the need for a lab.
One such strategy is the Milk Soap Rainbow Experiment, which uses milk, food colouring, and dish soap to explore chemical reactions and changes in surface tension. By observing how soap interacts with milk to create colourful patterns, students are introduced to properties of matter and chemical change in an engaging, visual way.
Another effective strategy demonstrated is the Water Sketching Activity, where students experiment with concepts like cohesion and adhesion by drawing on the surface of water using dry-erase markers. This simple activity demonstrates physical properties and can be easily conducted in any classroom setting.
Collaborative inquiry and model-based teaching are also emphasised, with teachers encouraged to use model-based explanations and collaborative investigations to help students understand chemical phenomena. This approach fosters an environment where students ask questions, discuss observations, and build conceptual models, deepening their understanding.
To support learning, worksheets focusing on observable properties of materials and simple chemical processes are provided. These resources help students apply knowledge in everyday contexts and support group discussion or self-assessment.
For those who missed the live session, a recorded version is now available on the Science Learning Hub. Registration for a Science Learning Hub account is free and easy, using email or Google account. The webinar's slideshow can be viewed in full screen and downloaded, while the video and slideshow presentation can be downloaded from the Referencing Hub media.
Additional content, notes, sharing, and collaboration are possible with the private collection. The Science Learning Hub team has curated a collection of resources related to the periodic table of elements, and offers pre-recorded webinars such as "Science for juniors" and "Kitchen science."
The Royal Society of Chemistry also offers primary school-specific resources and ideas for engaging investigations. Related content includes the articles "Junior science" and "Material world - mixtures."
In celebration and support of science in primary schools, the New Zealand Association of Primary Science Educators (NZAPSE) is involved. The International Year of the Periodic Table website provides information on global events.
By using relatable materials, encouraging exploration, and focusing on observable properties and changes in matter through fun, simple experiments, chemistry becomes approachable and memorable without the need for specialized lab equipment.
The chemistry learning session, "Chemistry in the Primary Classroom," provided by Greta Dromgool and the New Zealand Association of Primary Science Educators, presents a valuable opportunity for primary and junior secondary teachers to enhance their education-and-self-development in science through practical strategies that require minimal lab equipment. Strategies such as the Milk Soap Rainbow Experiment and Water Sketching Activity can engage students in learning key chemistry concepts like properties of matter and chemical reactions, while fostering an environment conducive to learning and self-assessment.
