What was Conceptual Chemistry?
Conceptual Chemistry was a Free, Grant Supported, Professional Development Course
For Teachers of Grades 4-9!
Background
Conceptual Chemistry is a course designed for grade school and middle school teachers to assist in their understanding of chemistry and to provide concrete ideas that they can take back to their classrooms to teach their students. Participants in this course receive free tuition and five graduate credit hours from the College of Education of Kent State University. In addition, participants receive over $850 worth of materials and supplies that allow for direct and immediate implementation of learned techniques into the local classroom. Funding for this course is provided by a grant from the Ohio Board of Regents Improving Teacher Quality Program. The Improving Teacher Quality Program, which is part of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, distributes federal funds to all 50 states to support activities designed to increase student achievement by elevating teacher quality.
How Did Conceptual Chemistry Align with Ohio Content Standards?
Educational Links
American Chemical Society Education Resources - Free lesson plans, class materials
and other cool stuff.
Chem4kids - A site that contains useful resources for teaching chemistry to middle
school children.
ChemThink - A student tutorial and teaching aid for middle school students & teachers.
Concord Consortium - Interactive science simulations and models for teachers.
Flinn Scientific - Chemical Materials & Supplies. Includes excellent safety pages.
Gene Easter - Bushfire Science
Kent State University Liquid Crystal Institute
Lynn Peavey Company - Forensic chemistry supply company
Molecular Workbench - Interactive simulations for teaching science
NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NSTA - Argument Driven Inquiry in Chemistry: Lab Investigations for Grades 9-12
Ohio Department of Education - Site contains Academic Content Standards
Ohiorc.org - Site for educational best practices in science
Popar Toys - Interactive periodic table of elements for kids.
Sample Physical Science Lesson Plan Template
Science Kids - Science activities for middle school teachers
Science Net Links - Science resources for K-12
PhET - University of Colorado Interactive Physics Simulations
WebLinks - Valuable links for understanding chemical processes
Safety
American Chemical Society Safety Information
Flinn Scientific Safety Web Site
The Sourcebook for Teaching Science - Laboratory Safety and Teaching Resources
Vermont Safety Information Resources Inc. MSDS Index
Science & Safety: It’s Elementary
Science & Safety: Making the Connection
Sigma-Aldrich Chemical - Specialty Chemicals and Safety Information
Conference Presentations Presentations
NSTA 2016
OSI 2016 (SECO 2016)
OSI 2015 (SECO 2015)
SECO 2014
SECO 2013
Instructors
Christopher J. Fenk, Ph.D. - Professor, KSU Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Claudia Khourey-Bowers, Ph.D. - Emeritus Professor, KSU College of Education
The Famous Gene Easter - Retired Streetsboro High School Teacher
Carol Thombs - Middle School Teacher
***Support for Conceptual Chemistry is provided by a grant under the federally funded Improving Teacher Quality Program, administered by the Ohio Board of Regents. The balance of funding and cost sharing is provided by the Ohio Board of Regents and Kent State University.
