Unit 1: Use of Lead in the Environment and Health Impacts on Human Populations part of Lead in the Environment
In Unit 1, students engage in discussion of the historical use and resulting distribution of lead throughout the human environment. Activity 1.1 introduces the systems dynamics linking geology, human use, and human ...

CCD & Calcareous Ooze Assignment part of Oceanography:Activities
The assignment pre-tests student understanding of the CCD, lysocline, calcareous ooze, and the deposition of marine sediments near mid-ocean ridges and ocean basins.

Getting a Grip on Hydrogen Bonds part of Oceanography:Activities
The purpose of this brief (~15 minutes) activity is for students to directly observe some of the unique properties of water that are the result of hydrogen bonds, such as capillary action, adhesion, cohesion, and ...

Ocean Acidification part of Oceanography:Activities
Students choose shell fragments from different species of Molluscs and calculate percent lose after soaking in different ph solutions for different periods of time. They research ocean acidification and especially ...

Is The Water Safe for Aquatic Life? part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
In this field activity students ponder sustainability issues such as point and non-point sources of pollution (including personal contributions), impacts of pollution, and potential mitigations.

An Environmental Analysis of Lake Waughop part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
Through an analysis of water quality in a nearby lake, students are introduced to basic chemical techniques such as titrations (both acid/base and oxidation/reduction), atomic absorption spectrometry, and uv/vis spectrometry

Exploring The Impact of Increased Acid Levels in Ocean Waters on Coral part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
The goal of this laboratory is to help students understand that burning fossil fuels, which results in an increase in the acidity of ocean waters, has a detrimental impact on marine life (specifically coral but also other organisms that have calcium carbonate based shells).

How Clean is Nuclear Energy? An Evaluation of the Environmental Impacts of Nuclear Power as an Alternative Energy Source part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
This writing assignment is in lieu of a laboratory activity during the discussion of nuclear chemistry within the general chemistry curriculum.

Organic Chemistry: Friend or Foe? An Organic Chemistry Special Investigation part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
Students are asked to work in teams to find a claim in the media relating to the impact of an organic compound (or class of organic compounds) on the environment and its inhabitants. Their chosen compound should have an effect on the sustainability of plant or animal life, or, in particular, the sustainability of human health.

Comparison of Traditional and Green Chemistry Methods for Extracting Essential Oils from Spices part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
This assignment connects aspects of green chemistry and environmental stewardship with some of the skills and theory involved in natural products chemistry and separation methods.

Chemistry Laboratory Waste Evaluation part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
From the scientific viewpoint, this evaluation will help the students see a process instead of just a data collection event, and they will get to practice estimating amounts. They will also need to determine the products of any reactions performed during the experiment. From the standpoint of sustainability, this evaluation is intended to help the student recognize the environmental "cost" of an experiment-in consumables used and in waste products generated.

Bottled Versus Tap Water: What You Drink and Why part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
In the activity students learn about the properties of solutions, acidity and pH, electrolytes versus non-electrolytes, and solution concentration. Hopefully, this activity will also dispel common misconceptions about tap water and bottled beverages.

What is the True Cost of Burning Coal? part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
This activity is a framework for general chemistry students to explore the costs, ethics and alternatives to coal-fired electricity.

Alternative Deicers: An Application of Freezing Point Depression part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
Road deicers raise several environmental and cost concerns. In this activity students consider alternatives while investigating colligative properties.

Acidification of Freshwater Streams and Lakes part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
Students research the acidification of freshwater streams and lakes, identify at least one of the sources, and determine how their daily activities contribute to the problem.

Integrating Sustainability Concepts into First Quarter General Chemistry part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
The goal of this project is to insert sustainability concepts and issues into the general chemistry curriculum. Specifically, I focus on carbon as the example to be considered throughout the quarter.

Geologic Time Calculations part of Quantitative Skills:Activity Collection
Radiometric age determination using parent/daughter composition and a radiometric decay curve.

The Candle Icebreaker part of MnSCU Partnership:PKAL-MnSCU Activities
Small groups of students examine a candle to consider its chemical properties. Class discussion follows to consider macro vs. molecular events, energy, phase changes, etc.

Ionic and Binary Compound Chemical Nomenclature part of MnSCU Partnership:PKAL-MnSCU Activities
This is a POGIL activity geared for general chemistry students. The activity guides students through the process of determining how ionic and binary compounds are named as well as inorganic acids.

Lab 5: All About Air Pressure part of EarthLabs for Educators:Hurricanes
The lab activity described here was created by John McDaris of SERC for the EarthLabs project. Summary and Learning Objectives Students select a storm from the HURDAT database and create its track in the ...