The Cracking Chemistry Working Group first February meeting focused on strategies for supporting struggling students and exploring engaging, hands-on methods for teaching chemistry concepts. In the first session, members shared best practices for helping students grasp challenging material, emphasizing the importance of scaffolding, peer tutoring, and coordination with other departments. The group discussed chunking problems into smaller steps, using proportions instead of dimensional analysis, and incorporating chemistry-related articles to make learning more relevant to students’ interests. They also highlighted the value of formative “Feedback Assessments,” which provide low-stakes opportunities for students to identify and address learning gaps. Resources such as Khan Academy, Bozeman Science, and Georgia Public Broadcasting’s chemistry courses were recommended as supplementary tools.
The conversation also covered institutional strategies for academic support. Some schools have built extra-help sessions and tutoring into their schedules, while others have found success teaming up with learning specialists. Teachers also shared strategies for addressing scheduling conflicts, such as reaching out to club moderators when students cite extracurricular commitments as a barrier to meeting with teachers. Additionally, members discussed coordinating with math departments about how best to teach the math needed for chemistry. The overall discussion underscored the importance of a multi-faceted approach to student support, combining classroom strategies, school-wide initiatives, and external resources.
The second February meeting shifted focus to hands-on experiments and creative teaching strategies for understanding compounds, mixtures, and key chemical principles. Participants discussed using Carolina kits to test conductivity, solubility, and melting points to determine if compounds are ionic or covalent, as well as engaging students with solubility experiments like chewing gum mass loss to illustrate polar and nonpolar interactions. Other interactive activities included grinding cereal to extract iron with a magnet and using an Engineering Tomorrow kit to build water filtration systems, turning chemistry into an engineering design challenge.
The group also explored innovative ways to sequence curriculum and connect chemistry to broader scientific concepts. One approach, “The Story of the Electron,” introduces electrons before building up to compounds and reactions. Members also discussed the role of AI in chemistry education, particularly for writing lab reports. Some educators have experimented with using AI to generate sample lab introductions, which students then critique and refine, fostering critical thinking about scientific communication.
Both meetings reinforced the importance of integrating support structures, hands-on learning, and interdisciplinary connections to deepen student engagement and understanding in chemistry. The discussions provided a wealth of resources and strategies for making chemistry more accessible and meaningful for students at all levels.
Note: summaries are written with aid of AI text software