How to Teach Chemistry (the Fun Way)
You know chemistry well. In fact, you solve stoichiometry problems while changing shoes, fixing Chromebooks, and yelling, “Sit. DOWN.”
Which is why you decided to teach chemistry (unless you were volunTOLD by some admin who doesn't understand the difference in anatomy and chemistry). You do complicated well.
But you’d like to make it fun too.
There have to be steps out there to make chemistry easy to teach and fun to learn.
There are and they are a mix of teaching clearly and making chemistry entertainingly real. (I’m looking at you, hot chocolate science.)
But, before you become the fun teacher, you need to have a few strategies in place.
Use Microsteps to Guide Students
Imagine you had to learn to build a house. You would be PaNicKeD. And overwhelmed by the vocabulary.
THAT is how your students feel at the beginning of the year.
So even though it feels like overkill to break the topic down into microsteps—do it. For no other reason than to reduce the 762 times you have to repeat yourself. Each. Day.
What if you don’t know how to break the topic down into steps? Send me an email, or check out my line of teaching notes. They are helpful for first time teachers.
You can’t be the fun teacher until you can break topics down well.
Teach Chemistry Logically —For You
I know someone might have handed you a sheet on “How the Department Teaches Chemistry. Period.” And, it does make it easier to keep everyone on the same page.
But, you teach best when chemistry makes sense to you.
So if you want to teach traditional chemistry-teach it that way. If atom’s first and teaching the intricacies of the atom makes more sense to you, then do that. Or, if you want to start with thermochemistry, do that. ——> Thanks to Angela and Ashley Burke for enlightening me on that strategy.
Consider your students. Consider your strengths. And combine those to make the best chemistry class ever. (Don’t forget to sprinkle in a few CoScine doodle notes for some fun logic!)
If it doesn’t make sense to you, you won’t be able to make it make sense to students.
Show More Examples Than You Think You Need To
When students see an example problem, they use it as a template in their brains. But, unless the next problem is exactly the same, they are not going to apply the template they learned. Thinking requires work and student brains go, "Ewww. No. Hi, TikTok.”
So what is the solution? Give them lots of examples to see how you work the problems.
Within those examples, make the steps very clear.
Two things make examples 10 times more effective: Writing them out by hand and having students interact with the examples.
Let me explain.
When you write examples out on the board you are slowing down (No one needs RoadRunner as a teacher. Beep, BEEP!). You're also much more likely to show your thought process. This helps your students replicate that thought process.
How do you help students interact with the examples?
Ask them what the next step is. Or, ask them why you did a step the way you did. This engages their brains deeper and helps them learn better.
Which brings us to the next point—in class and out of class practice.
Vary the Ways Students Practice
We've said students need more practice than we (or they) think. But where should that practice be?
In class?
Out of class?
On the bus while drinking red bull and throwing paper balls?
If you give students enough homework (or leftover classwork) they will have in class and out of class opportunities.
When they practice in class it helps them get used to risking their confidence. They can try hard problems, struggle with the problem, and overcome the problem with your help.
When they practice outside of class, students grow and truly learn the material you have presented to them on a deeper level.
It's kind of like taking off the training wheels.
Approach Difficult Concepts with Crayons
Quick! What topics do you hate teaching?
Most teachers tell me equilibrium, quantum numbers, VSEPR, Molecular Orbital Theory or something else abstract.
Why are these topics hard to teach?
Because they are so hard to visualize in our heads.
And if we are being 100% honest with ourselves, we don’t know these topics as well as we do other topics. And that’s not your fault.
I can’t find a textbook that explains these well. So without a book or your high school teacher teaching you well, it’s pretty hard to teach these well yourself!
Not to mention if you were a biology teacher who was thrown into teaching chemistry.
So how should you teach these topics? Through illustration. Draw them out. With lots of numbered and color coded steps. This is one of the best ways to have fun in your classroom.
Quantum numbers mean nothing to students as 1,0,0, ½. But, if you show them what each number means, then you are able to get understanding across. With a sprinkle of joy.
But, what if you end up teaching a topic you don't understand?
Make Your Weakness Your Strength
Some topics are hard on the students (Psst!…and the teacher.). Even though you feel like ducking, powering through the lesson, and hoping everyone makes it—don’t.
Sit down and ask the hard questions:
What do I not understand in this lesson? Who can I ask to get clarification? (Ask me or a coworker.) What weaknesses do my students have that are making this harder? What could I do to make this more enjoyable? Should I survey my students to find out more information?
Answering these questions will help you find a better way to teach hard topics.
But sometimes when you are teaching, that student will ask you a hard question you don't know the answer to. What do you do?
Use Unfamiliarity to Teach a Life Lesson
You are the teacher, but you can’t know everything. Create a “Why?” jar or board for questions you don’t know and will find the answer to later.
Not knowing can be a great lesson for your students.
It shows them how to find the answer.
It shows them that being able to logically think and problem solve is more important than memorizing facts.
It shows that not knowing isn’t a sign of weakness.
So if you don't know the answer, be honest and tell students you don't know. But, you'll find out for them. Or better, you'll show them how to think.
Not Your 90’s Teacher’s Chemistry Curriculum
When someone comes to evaluate or observe your classroom, do you feel like the best teacher ever?
No. You feel like a train wreck.
That will show the administration how you are going above and beyond to make sure your students understand chemistry.
Plus, the students will love showing off their hard work. Or, go another extra mile and make it a collaborative project with the art teacher.
But, if you want to go all out on your unique classroom curriculum, put you in it.
As in Y-O-U.
Personify Chemistry with Your Hobby
Are you a baker, hiker, crafter, knitter, or something else outside of the classroom? Then show your students how easy it can be to apply chemistry to everyday life.
>>>Stacy uses her love of baking to show students alternative protein flours.
>>>Mrs. Rif uses her knitting and crochet projects to relax students through test anxiety.
>>> I use my love of science to show students how to craft the perfect cup of hot chocolate.
>>> Jessica brings comfort and security to her students through these moles she sews.
All of that draws students in and makes it more fun.
But, if you want chemistry to really stick in their brains…
Use mystery to help students remember.
Start off with questions.
"Have you ever heard about your grandma making soap, and getting chemical burns after? This is why stoichiometry is important."
Not only will you hook your students on your story, but you'll have their attention for the whole lesson.
But, if you really want to be the fun teacher…
Be unexpected
Chemistry teachers are stereotypically boring; stiff, white lab coat wearing, monotone speaking drones.
(Clearly, you aren't if you are reading this article). So how can we break that stereotype?
Use color to make the lesson easier to grasp. Take students outside. Take them on a virtual field trip. Let them try the lesson digitally at home. Play a prank on your students. Try an edible lab. Tell a crazy chemistry story. Personify concepts and objects in chemistry.
Whatever you do, don't show textbook publisher provided slides. Every. Single. Day.
No one says you have to stand up every day in front of your students and read slide after slide and then assign homework.
That’s boring (But, occasionally necessary).
Using Doodle Notes as poster projects is not boring. Showing sig figs as characters, isn't boring. Showing students how to calculate molar mass using color coded math is memorable entertainment. Not to mention stress relieving.
Every day can't be fun. But if you are going to be crammed in a room with future scientists, let's convince them to like their jobs.
(Or, at least hope those who choose to blow things up become nuclear chemists. And not….something else…)
So after you're done teaching them to drink out of beakers. (After you told them no food in the lab.) Teach them the a lesson that will last through college and grad school.
Teach Them to Study Like No One Else Has
We tell students to study. We tell them this is important and that will be on the test. We give homework and quizzes.
But, most of us have never given instructions to study.
Why?
Honestly? I thought someone else had taught them. But if you think about it, studying looks different from 5th grade to 11th grade.
And ohhhhh your students think they know how to study. But they don’t know how.
How many times has a student told you they studied for hours? Only you learn that meant they read and reread the review sheet for hours. Epic waste of their time, right?
Yeaaaahhh.
So teach them to study chemistry, even though only 1 or 2 students a year will become scientists.
For the rest of them...
Make Chemistry Practical as Hot Chocolate
If you want your students to buy into the idea that chemistry is important to their life, then show them from day one.
On the first day of class, give each student a mini research project on a page:
How do you maintain the pH in your pool?
You are a bartender and someone requested a lemon merengue pie martini, but it keeps curdling—Why?
Vinegar spilled on your acid stained concrete floors. Is it going to be a problem?
You want to make a DIY salt scrub for your spa. Only you decide to not use oil and sugar. You decide to use lavender essence water and sugar. Why is this not going to work?
Students will see the importance of solubility rules, acids and bases, and pH unlike never before. Chemistry will suddenly become useful.
More than that, your life will be easier.
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