Jump to content

Menu

Basic chemistry - ideas please


Recommended Posts

The current passion around here is basic chemistry.

Theodore Gray's book The Elements is often the first thing my daughter (10) goes to. Wow, she loves this book.

 

We also are working our way through the Life of Fred chemistry book and this is a good level for her. She's been introduced to Avogadro's number, moles, STP, simple reactions etc. She's loving balancing chemical equations. In terms of level of challenge, this book hits the sweet spot.

 

She loves the periodic table and is taking great delight in trying to memorise it. We've found a couple of apps which quiz her and we've made the Ellen McHenry periodic table game. I've baulked at getting the Ellen McHenry Elements book, as I'm not sure what level this is.

 

Oh yes, and we're watching Crash Course chemistry.

 

I'm just wondering if anyone has any other ideas of great resources for this early level chemistry. I want to feed this passion while it's all-consuming.

Thanks!

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Periodic Videos YouTube channel

 

The Royal Institution chemistry lecture series--can find on you YouTube.

 

go React - app

 

The Disappearing Spoon --maybe as an audio book or to read in print.

 

Short History of Nearly Everything-also as an audiobook or print. Has large Chem section.

 

Uncle Tungsten-audiobook or print

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Second the Periodic Table of Videos, and their molecular videos.

 

A molecular modeling kit and the website ptable.com  

With the site set in "compounds" mode, you can build molecules by hand, then check if they exist and what they are, challenge yourself to build molecules with certain properties, play competitive molecule-building games etc... 

 

The Mystery of the Periodic Table Book.  That one's good on the history of how chemistry got discovered, and helps lay out the scientific thinking of it all.

 

Real chemicals that make interesting reactions (some with supervison, probably).  Understanding basic reduction/oxidation principles allows you to take advantage of the energy embedded in aluminum to blow up hydrogen balloons, set off thermite reactions, etc...

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I feel like I had already heard in a post on these boards that there might be some things we would need to edit (don't think it was specific, though).  We are pretty picky about what we let our kids read so I knew I would be reading it to them.  We are only on the first chapter.  There is a discussion about The Symposium by Plato, which is a dialogue on love and the erotic.  I only had to edit out a sentence or two, mostly just a few words.  Not a big deal to edit, but I wouldn't put it directly into the hands of my kids.  They do really like it!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Lisa.

The thing is, my daughter likes to read her non-fiction by herself.

 

She LOVES fiction read-alouds and I do read LoF out loud with her, but other non-fiction she just wants to curl up and read on her own, so I need to be a bit cautious.

 

I wish I had time to pre-read everything, but alas there just aren't enough hours in the day.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sounds like you have/or been recommended much of what we are doing with my kiddo.

However, if you haven't seen the Peter Weatherall chemistry videos, definitely take a look. Order the whole set for a ridiculously inexpensive price. The Human Body videos alone are worth it!

http://kidsinglish.com/video_clips/chem_vids_short_clips/chem-songbook.html

 

 

You said she wants to memorize the periodic table: have you seen the awesome New Periodic Table song by ASAP science? It works really well:)

As a total brag😄I am linking my dd's video of her singing it. She learned it for Daddy as a surprise bday present. Funnily enough, he won an award at the uni where he teaches and he used the video--she got a standing ovation from a room full of chemists:)

 

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This was the age Ds did Apologia Exploring Chemistry with Creation (2nd Edition). If you go with edition 2, there is very little religious content (I was worried). The book is an extremely simplistic high school chemistry book. The conversational tone, handful of well established, high quality problems, and pre algebra math level made it just right for my son. The books are cheap on Amazon (or they used to be).

 

We did much of it together, and it was a great text book intro. I feel really good about delving deeper this coming year with a total lab science year after the foundation it provided.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here are some links from when I asked a question about periodic tables about a year ago. The awesome people on this forum pointed me to these resources. I am too lazy to search for my old thread now.

 

http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/category/chemistry

http://www.ptable.com

http://www.periodicvideos.com

http://kidsinglish.com/video_clips/chem_vids_short_clips/chem-songbook.html

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This was the age Ds did Apologia Exploring Chemistry with Creation (2nd Edition). If you go with edition 2, there is very little religious content (I was worried). The book is an extremely simplistic high school chemistry book. The conversational tone, handful of well established, high quality problems, and pre algebra math level made it just right for my son. The books are cheap on Amazon (or they used to be).

 

We did much of it together, and it was a great text book intro. I feel really good about delving deeper this coming year with a total lab science year after the foundation it provided.

 

Good to know.  I was afraid the math was going to be just a little too much for my dd, but that sounds like it will be just perfect.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Another fiction suggestion....

 

Itch: The Explosive Adventures of an Element Hunter

 

and it's sequels. But definitely screen them first. IMO, 10 is a bit too young (which is why I won't let my DS read them, even though I know he would love the series and probably totally relate to the main character). But every family is different.

 

I'm actually still reading the last one, lol.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the heads-up on the language in book 2. Much appreciated.

I will be reading it out loud to her, so I'll be able to edit as needed.

 

Thanks also for the Toca Lab info. I'll check it out.

 

Right now, my daughter is loving Theodore Gray's The Elements in Action app. I wish it had more scientific info, though. But if she's watching the videos over and over, she must be getting something out of it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Two great PBS videos....

 

NOVA, Hunting the Elements

 

and

 

The Mystery of Matter

 

In MoM, they were particularly interested in Episode 2, which was all about Mendeleev. They like it because they use an actor to portray the scientist as though he were still alive.

 

We are actually doing an introductory unit on chemical and physical science now. We just started it a week ago. The kids wanted to do earth science and I figured it would be prudent to start such a semester with a unit on what all of its made of!

 

There are lots of really great resources out there. Have fun!

 

(And you know...maybe I'll read Itch outloud to them and edit needed areas...I am not fond of reading out loud, but I know the 9yr old would love it).

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...