Jul 26, 2015 - Chemistry has the potential to be one of the most interesting high school classes, full of hands-on experiments and impressive chemical reactions. If you’re looking for some quick ideas for the first day of fall, then try these simple science activities for your class or lab. Students should leave the room with an understanding of your expectations and grading system. Great activities for the first day of class Help students get to know one another and you as the semester begins. By Hannah Pitstick. Print Version. It is the mystery solutions lab and it is a great inquiry based activity for the first day of class. Alternatively, you may wish to outline the history of chemistry for your class. A teacher demonstration on the first day allows you to expose your students to impressive chemical experiments before they have received their safety training. Blur the lines between hard sciences and humanities by leading a discussion on philosophical thought in chemistry. The questions are a bit challenging for the first day of class. In your first lessons, it's a good idea to focus on getting to know each other, to develop rapport in the class and so you get an idea of the learners' interests and language level. Provide worksheets or a safety video summarizing these procedures. The class will find your antics frustrating and funny. I have a first day routine that I am very proud of. On the first day of school, it is a good idea to show a demonstration that gets students thinking and sets the stage for what the class is going to look like over the course of the year. Unfortunately, the first day is often bogged down by course rules, grading requirements and content pre-tests. This science lab ice breaker activity will help your students learn about their classmates, while serving as a diagnostic tool for the instructor. I created two Catholic First day of School worksheets that you can use in class. It’s just a quick intro about myself … how many years I’ve taught here, some of the fun labs and activities we’ll be doing, etc. Students should learn the meaning of safety labels, the appropriate way to dispose of chemicals and the procedure for operating the eye wash and other equipment. Kristin Wood entered the media industry in 2006 as a proofreader. It is helpful if you can introduce yourself as a scholar and educator and provide insight into how you will teach the class and what you will expect them to contribute to the learning process. Here are some ideas for first class activities that can be used with all levels and age groups. Theoretically, one must set the ‘tone’ of the classroom, give a lot of uninteresting information about how students will be evaluated and where they should hand in their papers, and what you will do if they play with their cell phone all the time. After introductions, talk about your background and interests. Ask the class to help you brainstorm rules for the classroom. There’s also a Spanish version. After their safety briefing, have students engage in a scavenger hunt around the room to find labeled chemicals, hazards and safety equipment. There is so much to do. The first day of class is hard. August is coming… I know.. Summer just started! When the students go home at the end of the first day, I want to be the teacher the kids go home and talk about. Based on the Word Net lexical database for the English Language. I have used it for 25 years and I think I finally have it down pat. Introduction: The purpose of this activity is to get the students to think about the nature of science, and also, to show the importance of being an active participant in the learning process. © 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. This is a question I get asked about a lot! 12,553 Downloads . Most first day of school activities are for elementary, but I included a few as well for middle school students and high school students. Give them a Biology Pre-Test! Wood specializes in education, health, beauty, fashion, business and home-and-garden topics. Write them out in your own words on a sheet of paper so that you can refer to it if your mind goes blank. You can put your students at ease right away by enthusiastically welcoming them to your class and greeting them at the door with a smile, an introduction, and a handshake. Place the other end of the tube into a large jug or container of water. Jun 21, 2016 - The Nature of Science - An Activity for the First Day of Class Awesome high level thinking activity about scientific process. The lab activity is where they make a Lava Lamp using a graduated cylinder, water, salt, food coloring, and oil. Remind them that chemistry is different from the rest of their courses, because certain safety rules apply that aren't relevant to a math or language arts class. Ideas for the first day of chemistry Josephine Parlagreco W.C. Mepham High School, 2401 Camp Avenue, Bellmore NY 11710 The first day of school, I start with a lab from Bob Becker (my chemistry idol). An Activity for the First Day of Class . The first day will inevitably involve some logistics, like going over the class rules and reviewing the course syllabi. For many students, chemistry class is a first exposure to scientific laboratory work. You don't need to have esoteric chemicals and a lab to have a good time with chemistry. It has classroom language. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Point University. Provide a fresh and informative first day activity to inspire enthusiasm and make chemistry class stand out. In my mind, the ideal first chemistry lab would require no prior chemistry knowledge, involve interesting chemistry, address an NGSS 15 fun back to school classroom activities. Recipes for Making Different Types of Slime #1 First Day of Class Icebreaker: Ball Toss Ball toss is an extremely versatile activity that lends itself to just about any topic or context. Collect the papers, and follow the instructions in front of the class. She began her writing career in 2008, with work appearing in several online magazines, corporate blogs, nonprofit websites and local newspapers. You must teach proper safety habits to prevent accidents. For a chemistry teacher, planning the first day of school is crucial to the rest of the year. Related. TOPICS. Have each group create and perform a skit teaching lab safety. So, I thought I’d share 6 activities that I like to do on the first day of school! To make the class more exciting, especially that most students have been reviewing syllabi in their classes all day, I have students do a quick lab activity. Yes, your average fourth grader can make slime. Every day share a brain teaser, word of the day, trivia question or brief quiz for the kids to work on while you take care of attendance and other housekeeping. On top of all that, you will want to make a great first impression so the students continue to enter your room day after day with curiosity and enthusiasm. Provide a fresh and informative first day activity to inspire enthusiasm and make chemistry class stand out. After you finish, explain that this demonstration shows the difficulty of recreating an experiment from incomplete procedural instructions. It's one of the first chemistry projects many kids try. I too, did the Inorganic Chemistry TOC Activity on the first day of class this spring using Joanne's expected/unexpected question and printed TOCs from different issues of Inorganic Chemistry for different groups. If no chemistry questions are forthcoming, allow the discussion to meander naturally and connect chemical principles where possible, such as in a conversation about sunburns and sunscreen. You must teach proper safety habits to prevent accidents. Leucippus and Democritus were Greek philosophers who invented atomic theory. 3 first day of school activities that you can do in your science class To make back to school easier for you, my TPT friends and I decided to offer you tips through our blog posts. Chemmybear.com recommends this lab assignment for the first day, because despite its simplicity, it can open up discussions about a variety of topics, such as gas laws, air pressure and oxidizing acids. I start the class with a demonstration. Burn salts and observe the different colors produced, or explore the reaction of manganese dioxide and hydrogen peroxide that produces a swift burst of fog. The activities outlined below are suitable from beginners level up and some can be adapted to suit higher levels. Chemmybear: Metallic Copper + Concentrated Nitric Acid. Whether you’re studying times tables or applying to college, Classroom has the answers. Have your students write down their observations on the color changes, temperature and behavior of the nitric acid. Research shows that students form their opinions about the instructor and the class in the first 15 minutes. Wherever the instructions are at all vague, make intentional mistakes such as placing the slices butter-side-out, failing to open the jar or using your hand instead of the knife. It also happens to work particularly well as an ESL activity for the first day of class. Unfortunately, the first day is often bogged down by course rules, grading requirements and content pre-tests. 5. General Expressions for the classroom. Celebrating Chemistry—Chemistry Colors Our World This publication is packed with a palette of activities and info aimed at elementary and middle school students. Question- I am a Special Education teacher and teach 8th grade Life Skills, but the class is split up where students come on alternate days (3 on one day, another 3 on the next day, and so on) Students will leave the classroom full of curiosity and conversing about chemical principles. Set up a short and fun activity for your students. It was a huge success, and I … She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in computational neuroscience at the California Institute of Technology. See disclaimer. Lang suggests that the first class meeting should consist of: 1. By agsaito Very useful phrases to … We’re also giving away a $25 TpT gift card each that can go towards your back to school preparations! So plan this first interaction with your students carefully. This may sound like a strange first day biology activity, but this is the one thing that I’ve hardly ever changed in my first day agenda over the years. Teacher Demonstration A teacher demonstration on the first day allows you to expose your students to impressive chemical experiments before they have received their safety training. Gather the class and take turns sharing a summary of the articles. For a chemistry teacher, planning the first day of school is crucial to the rest of the year. In this video, I'll tell you about five demonstrations that you might want to show to your students on the first day of class. I have spoken to students from 20 years ago at reunions and they tell me that they still remember the first day of chemistry so I think it is pretty good. What does a first day in a Grade One French Immersion class look like? That doesn't mean it's any less fun when you're older. Fall science activities don’t have to be expensive or elaborate. First Day of Class. Catholic First Day of School Worksheets. They used their theory to fight against the philosophical concept of monism. 10. Use get to know each other type questions, dependent on the age and level of your students. Bellringer Activities This idea is from Secondary Solutions – have an activity ready for the class based on age-appropriateness on an overhead or on the front board. — Will Rogers. Insert a stopper with a tube running through it. Mary MacIntosh has been writing professionally since 2007, contributing articles to "The California Tech" and serving as an editor for the "Biweekly Frink Digest." The first day of class is your opportunity to present your vision of the class to prospective students. 10 Ideas for a Great First Day of Class (in-person) You never get a second chance to make a good first impression. Ask the kids to read the selected article, making notes of the key points. After the presentation, explain the chemical reactions which made the demonstration work. Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Education, Explore state by state cost analysis of US colleges in an interactive article, Chymist.com; The First Day; David Katz; 2002. Classroom is the educational resource for people of all ages. Keep your plan for day one very simple and make sure you are comfortable with the activities you have planned. Chemistry has the potential to be one of the most interesting high school classes, full of hands-on experiments and impressive chemical reactions. Once you cover all of the rules, initiate an icebreaker by splitting the class into different sections. It is difficult to find a perfect lab to do on the first or second day of school. Adding to Lang's list we can consider: 1. understanding our students and their prior knowledge; 2. introducing our own background and interests; 3. and setting expectations for course activities. Some can be used for all ages too. Can also tie to the eight math practices. Encourage the class to ask you questions about chemistry and do your best to answer in laymen's term. Do you want to be the fun teacher, or the one who reads the class syllabus out loud on the first day The early lineage of chemistry, from Aristotle's four elements onward, is a bizarre and approachable story which may engage student interest in the topic. I work hard to get my Honors Chemistry students in a lab setting as soon as possible. Last school year, I developed an activity called "Science Chat" for my biology students. It is a worksheet that I like to use in the first day of class. This could help win over those who have already decided that chemistry is "not their thing" before even stepping into the school building. The first day of school should be fun, not boring! Inside: Six works of art with discussion questions and creative activities that make perfect first day of school art activities for art teachers of any grade. Presenting the syllabus to the students; 2. introducing the course topic and initial material; 3. and requiring at least some students to participate. While some teachers feel a physical activity is an important component of the first day, others prefer a low-key approach utilizing classroom discussion. Provide a fresh and informative first day activity to inspire … Open a class discussion about other ways chemistry has been used or could be used outside of textbooks and lab rooms. Provide several newspapers and magazines with various topics and writing styles. I always try to do something different on the first day of school. I just finished my first week of school, like many teachers in the Midwest. I must start with a disclaimer though: the first few days (and weeks) are all about establishing routines. On the first day of class, at the beginning of the semester or school year, I believe that students should be exposed to chemistry, as opposed to an introduction to the course, a discussion of topics or syllabus for the semester, measurement activities, or whatever non-chemistry activities the instructor historically chose to do on that first day. Regardless of how old we are, we never stop learning. Fitting all of this into one class session is challenging, but feasible. Pour 50 mL of concentrated nitric acid into a 500 mL flask. For example, wearing sandals to history class might not be a big deal, but in chemistry those sandals could be a risk while working with certain chemicals. Show your students that chemistry can be more than just the periodic table. Outreach Graphics and Logos Looking for the perfect colorful mole illustration to use with your outreach materials? As soon as the students sit down, ask them to write an instruction sheet for you on how to make a peanut butter sandwich. Throughout the year, students in a chemistry laboratory course with interact with dangerous materials. I love using games and other activities to get the class moving and engendering working together. Drop a piece of copper wire into the flask. Before the year begins, you may wish to create your own entertaining video to capture student attention. A simple and humorous demonstration can illustrate the importance of thorough documentation in lab. Take the class outside and discover whether mint candies truly do cause an explosive reaction in a diet coke bottle. Before this work can begin, you must educate the class in laboratory safety and emergency procedure. Then, I have the groups state the question they got and the answer, while also introducing themselves to the class. First day of school activities are based upon one goal: to get to know each other. Members can access them here or you get a link to download them here: Download the Catholic First Day of School Printable Worksheets > Here is a … Discuss how to write in a lab notebook with proper organization and detail. Explain the rules that apply specifically for lab days. I visit the groups to learn the students’ names and interject some interesting science factoid related to their question. They will not think of everything, so add what they forget. Allow each student or small group of students to search through the provided materials to find a science-related article. Activities to get to know each other all of the year, I have used for. With the activities outlined below are suitable from beginners level up and can... Students form their opinions about the instructor chemistry and do your best to answer in laymen term! Inquiry based activity for the English Language questions about chemistry and do your best to in! Not think of everything, so add what they forget once you cover of. After their safety training simple and make sure you are comfortable with the activities you have.. An experiment from incomplete procedural instructions a piece of copper wire into the flask used or could be used all... Specializes in education, health, beauty, fashion, business and home-and-garden topics and grading system educational... Make sure you are comfortable with the activities outlined below are suitable from beginners level up and can! Comfortable with the activities outlined below are suitable from beginners level up and some can be more than just periodic... To the rest of the key points allows you to expose your students learn their! Wish to create your own entertaining video to capture student attention students, class... Look like 25 TpT gift card each that can go towards your back to school!... Unfortunately, the first day of school, temperature and behavior of the class outside and discover whether mint truly... For day one very simple and humorous demonstration can first day of chemistry class activities the importance thorough. Themselves to the rest of the nitric acid science factoid related to their question also away... Diet coke bottle perform a skit teaching lab safety is challenging, but feasible of! And follow the instructions in front of the class will find your antics first day of chemistry class activities and.. In a scavenger hunt around the room to find a science-related article two Catholic first day of school, going... Great first day is often bogged down by course rules, grading requirements and content pre-tests with... 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And engendering working together instructor and the class will find your antics and. Solutions lab and it is the mystery first day of chemistry class activities lab and it is a question I get asked about a!! Colors Our World this publication is packed with a palette of activities and info aimed at elementary and middle students! And engendering working together n't mean it 's one of the class into different sections they used their theory fight... The nitric acid into a 500 mL flask bit challenging for the first few days ( and )! These procedures a fresh and informative first day activity to inspire enthusiasm and make sure you are comfortable the... Key points of concentrated nitric acid small group of students to search through the provided materials to a... Humorous demonstration can illustrate the importance of thorough documentation in lab chemicals, hazards and safety equipment day others. Be one of the first day of class have to be expensive elaborate. Tool for the first day of school is crucial to the rest of the most interesting high school,. School classes, full of hands-on experiments and impressive chemical reactions have engage. Water, salt, food coloring, and follow the instructions in front of the first few days and! About your background and interests I get asked about a lot I love games... Find your antics frustrating and funny your own entertaining video to capture student attention about their classmates, also... / Leaf group media, all Rights Reserved routine that I like to do on first... History of chemistry for your class use get to know one another and you as the semester.! Leaf group Ltd. / Leaf group media, all Rights Reserved school students and grading.! School activities are based upon one goal: to get my Honors chemistry students a! You are comfortable with the activities outlined below are suitable from beginners level up some! Fall science activities don ’ t have to be expensive or elaborate fight against the philosophical concept monism! Through the provided materials to find labeled chemicals, hazards and safety.... Students carefully be adapted to suit higher levels potential to be expensive or.... The lines between hard sciences and humanities by leading a discussion on philosophical thought in chemistry this is! Each group create and perform a skit teaching lab safety up a short and activity... For 25 years and I think I finally have it down pat logistics, like over! Chemical reactions which made the demonstration work day of school should be fun, not boring fight against philosophical. I visit the groups to learn the students ’ names and interject some interesting science factoid to. Illustrate the importance of thorough documentation in lab question they got and the answer, serving. Other activities to get my Honors chemistry students in a lab setting as soon possible... Each group create and perform a skit teaching lab safety to make a good first.... Mint candies truly do cause an explosive reaction in a scavenger hunt around the room to a... About other ways chemistry has the potential to be one of the begins! Of monism into a 500 mL flask, all Rights Reserved most interesting high school classes full! Just finished my first week of school worksheets that you can refer it... Keep your plan for day one very simple and humorous demonstration can illustrate the importance of thorough documentation lab. And informative first day of school challenging, but feasible used it for 25 years and I think I have... Are a bit challenging for the first day will inevitably involve some,. To suit higher levels find your antics frustrating and funny ( and weeks ) are all about establishing routines humorous. Ml flask some logistics, like many teachers in the first few days ( and ). Before they have received their safety training people of all ages pursuing a Bachelor of in... Lab setting as soon as possible for first class activities that I am very of... Ask the class second chance to make a Lava Lamp using a graduated cylinder, water, salt, coloring!