Chemistree

This is a great beginning of the year activity, or to do during your periodic table unit. You can do the activity multiple ways - I typically tell them to color the words and numbers in their favorite color, and draw three things they love in the white background. I turn it into a class periodic table to display for Parent Night.

A great and fun way to get students thinking about mixtures, chromatography, and to encourage them to think critically. This is a simple lab - you only need a total of five markers (two being identical), some chromatography paper (filter paper works in a pinch), pencils, beakers, and tape. I recommend you put a dot of the "puppynapper" marker on each filter paper prior to having students present, so that they aren't able to guess the culprit. The kids love the mystery aspect!

This is a fun, quick, and punny way to get students engaged in the scientific method. They have to use their problem-solving skills to figure out what is causing researchers on the island of Far'awai-lan to get sick. This activity emphasizes that the scientific method is a process that can go through different phases and iterations. This activity works great at all age levels, especially when you make it competitive!