Educational Resources
CCEW 2021 Reducing Our Footprint with Chemistry
Find educational resources for this year's Chemists Celebrate Earth Week theme and other materials for your event, including outreach activities, activities, articles, and videos.
Elementary & Middle School (Ages 5–13)
From Middle School Chemistry
- Carbon Dioxide Can Make a Solution Acidic – How does carbon dioxide affects a solution’s pH? Students then apply these observations to the environmental problem of ocean acidification by doing research on this issue.
From American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AACT)
Consider joining AACT for access to many more resources for chemistry teachers year-round and connect with a community of K–12 chemistry teachers.
For Middle School Students (Ages 11–13)
- Lesson Plan: Carbon, Carbon Everywhere
- Lesson Plan: Clean-Up Pond Pollution
- Video: Alternative Fuels Video
- Activity: Sustainability
- Lesson Plan: Cleaning-up the Plastic Island
- Lab: Greenhouse Gas Simulation (free resource)
For Elementary School Students (Ages 5–10)
- Lab: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
- Lesson Plan: Clean-Up Pond Pollution
- Lesson Plan: Environmental Problems
High School (Ages 14–18)
From ChemMatters
ChemMatters is a magazine that helps high school students find connections between chemistry and the world around them.
- How to Make Fashion Sustainable – The clothing industry has been called out for years for its unsustainable practices. To shrink the environmental footprint of fashion, scientists are tackling the complex challenge of clothes-to-clothes recycling.
- A Solar Future – An increasing number of everyday items are powered with the sun and electricity-generating solar power plants may become an alternative to coal and natural gas in the future.
- Compost: Your Trash, Nature's Treasure! – Composting is a way to harvest crops with natural fertilizer and reduce our contribution to greenhouse gases—a win-win!
- Acidic Seas: How Carbon Dioxide Is Changing the Oceans – Changes in our global atmosphere are adding carbon dioxide to the air we breathe, and also to our oceans.
- Open for Discussion: Can Nuclear Power Save the Planet? – Nuclear power is often viewed by many as a dangerous technology that should become a relic of the past. But as the world seeks to reduce CO2 emissions to fight climate change, is it time to ramp up nuclear energy?
- Cow Power: A Climate Change Solution from Manure – A growing number of farmers are turning a greenhouse gas that comes from raising animals into a source of energy to help fight climate change.
From AACT
Consider joining AACT for access to many more resources for chemistry teachers year-round and connect with a community of K–12 chemistry teachers.
- Activity: Calculating Your Carbon Footprint (free resource)
- Lab: Greenhouse Gas Simulation (free resource)
- Project: Sustainable Energy Evaluation
- Lesson Plan: Redesigning a Car for the Environment
- Lesson Plan: Biofuels of the Future
- Lab: A Greener Le Chatelier’s Principle Lab
- Activity: Understanding Renewable Energy
- Video: Alternative Fuels Video
- Activity: Sustainability
- Lesson Plan: Cleaning-up the Plastic Island
Activities for Science Outreach Events
- Shrink Your Footprint with Shrinky Dinks
Some kinds of plastic containers bend or shrink when they get too hot. Instead of throwing them away, let’s reuse these types of plastics in a fun way! - Find the Footprint of Your Favorite Snacks!
In this activity, you’ll think about the amount of energy and resources needed to make your favorite snack food and get it to you fresh, delicious, and undamaged. - Be Cool... with Insulation!
On a hot day, there’s nothing better than a cold drink. How can you keep your drink cool for the longest amount of time? Insulate!
Resources from the Earth Day Network
- Teach-In Toolkit
Plan an effective teach-in on topics like reforestation, climate change, food waste, plastic use, and more! Bring your community together and build capacity to make change!
- Climate Civics Toolkit
Explore ways to learn more about the local impacts of climate change and what it means to be an active participant in community civic action. A week’s worth of activities and lessons for learners ages 8-18 and beyond. - Food/Carbon Calculators
Several different calculators for measuring your footprints.
- Billion Acts of Green
Ideas for actions you can take to lessen your footprint. Add your own!
Find more resources at EarthDay.org.
More Resources for Educators
- Chemistry at Home Resources about the Earth
Find a newly curated set of educational resources about the Earth perfect for aiding parents and teachers in student enrichment during this time of distance learning. - Illustrated Poem Contest
As part of every CCEW celebration, the ACS sponsors a national illustrated poem contest for K–12th grade students. - Meg A. Mole Career Profiles
Read all about Meg's many adventures! These interviews are an excellent resource for teachers to inform their students about the activities chemists perform every day. Need to explain a mole? Check out our “Meet the Moles!” web page.
- Energy Foundations for High School Chemistry
Teach the big ideas about energy in your high school chemistry classroom! Explore the fundamentals of chemical, mechanical, nuclear and gravitational energy. - Journal of Chemical Education
A journal for chemical educators featuring activities and articles. - Science Safety Guidelines
Consult the ACS Center for Lab Safety to incorporate safe practices into your teaching curriculum. - National Historic Chemical Landmarks
Learn about special places in chemical history, and download lesson plans for engaging classrooms.
Contact the ACS Office of Science Outreach
outreach@acs.org
