This teacher-directed demonstration provides a conceptual understanding of latent heat. Using the example of a chemical hand warmer, students learn about phase changes from liquid to solid and from solid to liquid and observe that one of these phase changes releases heat while the other requires heat to be added. These concepts are then reinforced in a demonstration which involves heating water and ... Full description.

In this activity, which can be performed as a demonstration by the teacher or by the students themselves, carbon dioxide is generated in a fish tank using sodium bicarbonate and vinegar. The students can observe as the accumulating carbon dioxide extinguishes candles of different heights, marking rising levels of CO2 in the tank. They can also blow soap bubbles (which contain air) into the tank and ... Full description.

In this demonstration, the teacher will use a potato and hydrogen peroxide to generate oxygen in a closed environment. Students can then observe its effects on a burning wooden splint and on burning steel wool. They will understand that a large amount of energy can be released by the process of oxidation. As an extension, the teacher can discuss how the appearance of oxygen (produced by cyanobacteria) ... Full description.

This lab activity uses the internal structure of newspaper (its fibers) to explore the ways in which the internal structure of a material can affect how it behaves. The findings can be related to the physical and chemical properties of minerals, which are influenced by their own internal molecular structures. Full description.

This reference contains formulas, physical constants, maps, diagrams, and other information related to Earth science, space science, physics, and chemistry which are used for the New York State Regents exams. The tables are in a downloadable, printable format, with file size limited to no more than 10 megabytes. The Earth science tables are available in several languages. Full description.