Summary

In this activity, students will watch a video about the history of chemistry. They will answer questions while learning about the history of chemistry, starting with the discovery of fire, progressing through the various metal ages, and be introduced to the great philosophers.

Grade Level

Elementary, Middle, and High School

Objectives

By the end of this activity, students should be able to

• Understand how our knowledge of chemistry has changed through the centuries.

Chemistry Topics

This activity supports students’ understanding of

• History of Chemistry
• Physical Properties
• Observations
• Matter
• Atomic Structure
• Model of the Atom

Time

Teacher Preparation: minimal

Lesson: 10 minutes

Materials

• Ancient Chemistry video
• Student Handout
• Projector with Volume
• AACT Student Pass (optional)

Safety

No specific safety precautions need to be observed for this activity.

Teacher Notes

• The Ancient Chemistry video was developed as a part of the AACT original video series, Founders of Chemistry. The entire series can be found here.
• The running time of this video is six minutes and forty-five seconds.
• This video is intended for students to watch, and for teachers to integrate into their curriculum.
• The student questions/answers are presented in sequential order in the video.
• An answer key has also been provided for teacher reference.
• Videos can be shown with the use of a classroom projector, or teachers can generate a Student Pass through their AACT membership to allow students to independently access the video.