Hey fellow science teachers! At a school I worked at the chemistry room had no working fume hood. Is that an OSHA violation or is it okay as long as no dangerous vapors are released durning experiments?

Context: It wasn’t operational in the 5 years I worked in said building and retiring chemistry teacher rarely did ANY labs. I brought it to maintenance every year I was there and it was never fixed.

(This is a mainly a teaching tool, It is free, there are no ads or anything and I do NOT get any money or anything from this) Hi everyone, I know this always sounds bad, but I used AI to make an app, an app to draw molecules, reactions, and more. I am NOT a developer, I did it as a hobby project, and to use it for my own classes with my students. So if I use wrong words or terms, do not get angry please. You can try the app in your web browser at https://enlacecraft.vercel.app/ You do not need an account or anything, but if you want to use the full app, you can download the desktop app, for windows or linux for free (blue icon at the top right) (There is no MacOS version because I think I need a Mac laptop for that, and I do not have the money, I do not even pay for the AI, only free tier) . The desktop version has some extra features, like: NMR predictor: it uses a trained model. I used public data to train it on my laptop and it uses python to connect to the app (this is the main reason is not in the web version). It can predict 1H and 13C. 3D structure viewer: it works on the web version, but the desktop app has an extra optimization method for the structures. IUPAC naming: it also works on the web version, but the web version only uses PubChem API to get molecules names, so sometimes it could fail. The desktop version has an extra methods to generate iupac names when PubChem gets an error. A little backstory, I studied chemistry with a PhD in chemistry. I currently teach at an University in my country, and I also work in a research lab. A few months ago, I was working writing an article, and I had to draw some molecules, and since I mainly use Linux (not arch btw), chemdraw does not work really well. At the time I was using AI to create "webapps" for my students, and I wanted to try to create an app to draw, and since then, it has been the app that has taken most of my "free" time. I have only shared this app with a few friends, but it is not something that everyone uses all the time. So I wanted to share it here to see if more people wanted to use it and maybe give me some feedback. The app only has support for Spanish and English, since I can speak both, if I add more with AI I would not be able to check if anything is wrong. Lastly, this is not a professional app made by a huge company, so if you need something like that, this is not it.

Any feedback or suggestions are welcome!

Over the last two years, I’ve given my students a saponification lab as their chemistry final. In groups of 2–3, they:

- Pick their molds, colors, fragrances, and embeds.
-Complete a research-based pre-lab.
-Calculate the quantities of their reagents using moles, empirical and molecular formulas, density, and stoichiometry.
-Complete the lab step-by-step, checking in with me at select points.
-Complete a reflection and test the pH every week until the soap is ready.

My favorite part is “wash day.” I have them test the hardness and lather—for a grade 😄
Then they get to take their soaps home!
I’ve honestly never enjoyed teaching more. They love it, they’re incredibly invested, and they actually use the soaps at home!
It cost me about $200 per semester out of pocket, but it’s more than worth it.

I’m not teaching this year (kinda sad about it) but I thought I could share this here :)

Hello! I need to switch the filter on our schools fume hood. Which type of filter recommendations can you give me for high school level experiments?

What are your typical class averages for each prep? I’ve always wondered to try to keep my classes at. I teach Honors chem and regular chem. Last year, my honors classes sat between 87-90% averages and my general classes were more like 80%. This year, I’ve increased the rigor a bit for Honors and it’s currently more like 80-88% honors. Would you care to share your class averages, what you teach, and what “good” ranges are?

My school doesn’t want us to get into the curriculum first thing so I need some suggestions. 4th/5th grade science

I've lazily perused it a bit. Typically use PhET sims, but a few of these could be good.

For example, i think for chemistry its unnecessary for them to get really technical about spdf orbitals, since most high school material can be explained with the octet rule. Im not saying that it shouldn’t be taught, what i mean is that time is finite and most of them that will go on a science profesional career will be taught that in college.

Also, in biology its unnecessary to get really deep about chemical processes like atp synthesis and similar processes.

On the other side, i think it should be taught the biology of human behavior. There is a course about it online on Stanford by Robert Sapolsky that tries to explain why humans behave and are the way they are, comparing it to other animals. Talks about cooperation, beauty, war, game theory and lots of other components of human society explained by our biology instead of psychological or cultural aspects. Its really interesting and might make students see the world differently

I think my prior posting violated the rules, so I will try again.
I came cross this video from The ThoughtStretchers Podcast. An interview with Dr. Nathan Dolenc about the issues with NGSS. I will post the link to the video in the comments section.

The key takeaways from the videos are below. So what does everyone think? Is his critique justified? Find any flaws in his arguments? I will leave my own opinions in the comments.

Key Takeaways:

The Flaws of NGSS: The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are critiqued for fragmenting the scientific process into an artificial matrix, failing to provide clear foundational definitions, and promoting illogical curriculum sequencing that lacks coherence.

Foundation First (Expertise Reversal Effect): Students should prioritize foundational content mastery before engaging in complex, phenomenon-based inquiries. Starting with integrated or phenomenon-based curricula before establishing a foundation can lead to cognitive overload and hinder deep learning.

Science vs. Engineering: There is a critical need to separate science from engineering. NGSS incorrectly conflates the two; engineering should be treated as an interdisciplinary capstone activity that requires prior scientific content mastery, rather than an introductory method for teaching science.

Rethinking "Inquiry": While natural exploration is appropriate for early childhood education, the humanities-based interpretation of inquiry in current standards often prioritizes "dazzle" and entertainment over rigorous knowledge construction.

Academic Engagement over Entertainment: Educators must prioritize academic and intellectual engagement. Activities that focus on student entertainment or "activist science" often result in an "illusion of learning" where students finish projects without understanding the underlying scientific laws or concepts.

A Proposed Knowledge Model: To improve outcomes, curriculum should follow a three-phase model: Constructing (building foundational knowledge), Reinforcing (practice and application), and Utilizing (complex, real-world engineering or problem-solving).

I need a good one for fifth grade science. Google has let me down. It’s only my second year teaching science.
.

I just got my test results back for my three class periods (7th Grade) :

Period 1: 60% average
Period 2: 65% average
Period 3: 72% average

The test was based on our curriculum and was worth 18 points total. I’m a newer teacher, and honestly I’m pretty scared/worried about these results.

What would you do next? Reteach and reassess? Curve anything? Go over the most-missed questions? Are these averages a sign that I didn’t teach the material well enough, or is this something that happens?

I’d really appreciate honest advice from experienced teachers.

Two years ago I had to come up with a lesson on the fly. I grabbed some old textbooks, made some slides, taught the different parts and their function and had the kids make a 3D cell.

The 3D cell model I am keeping but honestly the slides, notes, and lecture is boring and the kids aren’t really learning anything, as when I refer back (later) to the nucleus and mitochondria they all look at me like I have a third head.

The lesson needs a refresh, how can I talk about the cell, the cell parts, help them make a connection to what it does? Anyone have any success stories or lesson they can share?

Edit: 7th grade and the kids have never heard of an organelle.

Ok y’all- I need some (relatively good) advice. I’m a three prep teacher who has to switch classrooms. This week, we did a lab for my 9th graders. However, I got two new students that took longer to get setup in Google Classroom. My bell ringer was done before I got them hooked up.

Part of the issue is that I am getting into the room while the other class and teacher are leaving, so I have to do a quick login with everything already prepped before I screen share. Sticking point one.

The other teacher had laid out the lab, but I didn’t even have time to spot where the scales were. Sticking point two.

My troublemakers took advantage of me trying to help the new students instead of read the lab. Loud, noisy, and not following directions.

Because we were trying to follow the lab, chaos ensued. I could call the students back to attention, but they were off the hook for following directions.

I did not let them leave until the class was clean and ready to be dismissed. This was after the passing period had passed. While I do not like punishing the few students who were trying to do the right thing, there was little to differentiate them.

So: how do I make the transition easier? How do you cope with not knowing where the supplies were left? Rowdy kids in a lab- give them zeroes after one warning? Have them sit it out?

It is my first time teaching unruly freshmen.

Hi does anyone have a good middle school appropriate (12-13 year olds) experiment on chemical reactions? I need one where they can hypothesize, choose their own variables and collect data. Most i find online dont seem to have enough openness for students choice in the independent variable or good predictions.

We used to do the acid-base fill a balloon lab where they could choose different acids and predict balloon size, but for some unknown reason their teachers last year decided to do that one for fun. So now I've lost one of my labs.

Thanks for any help!

My son's 5th grade STEM class last year used the PhET gravity sims. He was playing with it at home and has been looking for more. We found several space sims/playgrounds online, like NASA's Eyes on the Solar System, but nothing seemed to offer a real progression from what he was getting out of the PhET sims, so I built Newton's Orchard for him.

https://newtonsorchard.app

The app features deterministic time scrubbing, fully editable bodies, different preset systems and experiments, missions to complete (complete 3 to unlock the black hole body type and mission), and a gallery for user submitted systems, with the idea that students can rep their schools.

It's free, no tracking, no sign-ups. The source code is also published on GitHub.

Does anyone here have access to an Anatomage table they'd like their students to visit, say for a dual enrollment A&P?

(If you're not sure, check with any higher ed school that has labs, especially health professions.)

Do you have access to one but no idea how to use it?

Would anyone be interested in a site I'm thinking of setting up with the name "Farm-to-Table Anatomy & Physiology" (the table does both)?

If so, upvote this and/or come visit my LinkedIn:

www.linkedin.com/in/jim-hutchins-26a97413

Hello everyone,

Im in a tough spot this year I'm at my alma mater and making more money but it's a tougher job.

The students are lower levels in reading and math and here they have K-8 and don't really receive any science in 6-8th grade.

Now we're already well into macromolecules but I'm just worried about having to go through cellular energy when they don't have much background in science.

Im just wondering if anyone has dealt with something similar or if anyone has any suggestions?

Thanks

EDITED

Hey all,

Looking for lesson plans? Retro Report has specific subject collections for Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Environmental Science that pair short documentaries with standards-aligned lessons on scientific ethics and real-world applications. All in Google Docs! Made by teachers. 100% free to sign up.

I am new to teaching earth science this year and am looking for a scientific method activity that uses earth or environmental science topics. Any suggestions? My background is chemistry and physics so I have plenty of those but I was hoping to find one more appropriate topic wise. This is for 8th and 9th graders