Chemistry Outreach Activities

Discover hands-on activities you can use for your community outreach efforts. Each activity is designed to increase understanding and appreciation for chemistry and can be performed with supervising adults using easy-to-find materials.

Small Group

Participants: 1-10

Duration: 15-45 mins

Adaptable to most locations

Classroom

Participants: 10-40

Duration: 20-30 mins/lesson

Ideal for settings such as schools, libraries, places of worship, rec centers

Stage Demo

Participants: 25-250

Duration: 5-15 mins/demo

Requires minimum of 10 ft between presenter and audience. Additional safety measures required.

Expo Station

Participants: 6-7 per station per hour
Duration: 8-10 mins/participant

Suitable for a table or booth at a community festival, science center, or family science night where participants move freely between stations. 

Small Group

Mystery Markers

Lead participants through the discovery of hidden colors in markers using paper chromatography.
Unleashing Carbon Dioxide

Guide participants through an exploration of how gases dissolve in water, the impact of different surfaces on getting gases out of solution, and why Mentos have such an explosive effect on soda!
The Secret Science of Self-Inflating Balloons

Use the reaction between citric acid and baking soda to explain how to inflate a latex balloon, extinguish a candle, and discover how self-inflating balloons work.
Nature of Dye

Teach the impact of acids and bases on a common natural dyes made from dried cochineal bugs!
Appearing & Disappearing Ink

Show participants how to make their own disappearing ink using turmeric and rubbing alcohol.

Classroom

Rainbow Tornado

Teach Le Chatelier’s Principle using antacid, vinegar, and universal indicator to create a colorful vortex!
Goo Worms

Share the science of polymerization by making wiggly, squish worms!

Stage Demo

React with Copper

Show off the replacement and redox reactions that use copper metal to make brown gas and gray powder.
Tin Crystals

Use electricity to grow metal crystals in a tin.
Chemistry That Glows

Demostrate the chemiluminescence of luminol to explain how fireflies put on their glow-in-the-dark show.

Expo Station

Magnets
Imagine Imaging

Share an unexpected feature of flat flexible magnets and then invite participants to use this pattern to position three shapes without the visual cues of an image.
Student performing Light Prints activity
Light Prints

Use this simple activity to introduce the historical uses of light-sensitive paper to make photos or copies that people could hold.

Related Resources

Safer Experiments & Demonstrations

Every venue is unique! Learn how to complete a RAMP assessment to account for variations.

Review Our RAMP-Based Guide
Make Your Own Videos!

Want to make your own videos? Check out these workshop recordings and handouts:

Learn How to Make a Video
Download Animations

Use these animations to augment your chem demo video or in-person activity:

Learn More about Animations

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