Dive Into Marine Chemistry with Chemists Celebrate Earth Week

The American Chemical Society has a proud tradition of celebrating Earth Week — and helping chemists everywhere get in on the fun and share the power of chemistry with others. The annual Chemists Celebrate Earth Week celebration encourages ACS members and science enthusiasts to build awareness of chemistry at the local level. ACS local sections, schools, businesses, and individuals are invited to organize or participate in events in their communities with a common goal: communicate the positive role that chemistry plays in the world.

CCEW celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2018 with the theme “Dive into Marine Chemistry.” Check out the CCEW 2018 edition of Celebrating Chemistry and other online resources listed below.

Resources for Chemistry Educators

• Celebrating Chemistry
  The Celebrating Chemistry publication is designed to engage and educate children (Grades 4-6) in the basic principles of chemistry and is available in both English and Spanish.

• Meg A. Mole Career Profiles
  Read all about Meg’s adventures! These interviews are an excellent resource for teachers to inform their students about the activities chemists perform every day.

• ChemMatters
  ChemMatters is a magazine that helps high school students find connections between chemistry and the world around them.
  

• Journal of Chemical Education
  A journal for chemical educators featuring activities and articles.

• Science Safety Guidelines
  Recommendations to incorporate safe practices into your teaching curriculum.

Articles and Activities

Students can take part in the following activities:

• Grades 3-5 (from Science Activities in the Classroom)
  • Disappearing Statues
    See how acid rain eats away at hard materials.
  • Lose the Blues with CO2
    Test how much carbon dioxide is in the air using cabbage.
  • Rooting for Sink and Float
    Use a carrot learn why earn objects act differently in fresh and saltwater.
  • The Fate of Calcium Carbonate
    Calcium carbonate is a chemical found in eggshells, seashells, and many other materials. Observe how calcium carbonate reacts with common liquids.
  • Water Cycle Wristband
    Use colorful beads to help you remember the water cycle.

• Grades 6-8 (from Middle School Chemistry)
  • Carbon Dioxide Can Make a Solution Acidic
    Have students research the effects of too much carbon dioxide in ocean water.
  • Natural Resources & Synthetic Materials
    Gather and make sense of information to describe that synthetic materials come from natural resources and impact society.

• Grades 9-12 (from AACT Chemistry Solutions)
  • Finding Chemistry Connections in Climate Change
    Resources to teach global warming and climate change in your chemistry classroom.

• ACS Student Chapters (from ACS Green Chemistry Institute)
  • From Lobster Shells to Plastic Objects: A Bioplastics Activity
    The official green chemistry activity for CCEW 2018. Do three or more green chemistry outreach or educational activities during the school year for a chance to win a Green Chemistry Student Chapter Award. More information here.

• Community Event: Learn More About Seafood in Your Community

• Learn about Organizing Your Own Local Event

Student Contest

• Illustrated Poem Contest
  As part of every CCEW celebration, ACS sponsors a contest for students (Grades K-12).

Webinars

• AACT hosted a webinar for high school chemistry teachers titled, “Teaching Methods and Resources for CCEW 2018.” The webinar took place on Wednesday, April 11. View the recorded webinar and see more teaching resources here.

• GCI will host a webinar titled, ” Riding the Wave of Green Chemistry: How to Enhance Awareness of Plastics in the Ocean.” The webinar will take place on Wednesday, April 25 from 2-3 p.m. ET. View webinar and registration details here.

How Are You Celebrating Earth Week This Year?