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Classroom Commentary | November 2024 From the Classroom to Capitol Hill
A chemistry teacher shares her experience as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, detailing her journey from the classroom to Capitol Hill. She reflects on the fellowship’s impact and her contributions to education policy, and encourages other STEM teachers to apply.
Classroom Commentary | November 2024 Understanding the Need for Greater Resources and Diversity in Chemistry Teaching
This article highlights the challenges of teaching chemistry in underfunded schools, focusing on inadequate resources and lack of minority role models. It emphasizes the importance of addressing these issues through increased funding, community partnerships, and recruiting diverse teachers.
Classroom Commentary | November 2023 Preparing Students for the International Science and Engineering Fair
In this article, the author describes her efforts to prepare students for the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) for the first time. She also shares the experience of two students who reached the regional and state levels.
Classroom Commentary | November 2023 Student Mental Health Matters... and so Does Yours!
Student mental health has gained greater focus over recent years, yet many teachers have not applied that knowledge to themselves. A discussion at ChemEd 2023, led by the author, introduced techniques for teachers to prioritize their own well-being.
Classroom Commentary | September 2023 The Impact of Mentorship
The author describes the sizable gap in academic performance in STEM that existed between the White and Hispanic students at the high school where she teaches. Creating a club for her school’s Hispanic students to provide STEM mentorship helped address the issue successfully.

Classroom Commentary | March 2023 High School Girls in STEM Club

In this article, the author shares about the motivation for and purpose of the Girls in STEM club, created in her school nearly a decade ago. The club has flourished over the years, encouraging and supporting high school girls in STEM subjects as well as providing outreach opportunities for club members and younger girls in the community who are interested in STEM.

Resource Feature | May 2022 The Wonderful World of Chemistry: A Magic Show!
Given the value of chemistry demonstrations to learning, in 2019 the Yale Chemistry Department developed a successful outreach event called, “The Wonderful World of Chemistry: A Magic Show,” which was performed again in 2020 for students from local public schools. This hour-long lecture given by Yale Chemistry Department faculty and students was intended to introduce chemistry to upper-elementary and middle school students through a series of demonstrations. In this article, the authors provide teachers with information that will assist them in performing some of the most successful demonstrations in their own classrooms.
Classroom Commentary | November 2021 Arousing the Spirit of Inquiry
Stories from the history of chemistry can serve as rich and stimulating complements to standard curricula in K-12 chemistry classrooms. Yet even when chemistry teachers have the curricular flexibility to build history lessons into their classes, students can often find this content dry or inaccessible. At the same time, fewer and fewer science centers and museums present content and artifacts on historical chemistry that educators can use to supplement classroom teaching. As ACS celebrates the 100th anniversary of the creation of its Division of the History of Chemistry, this essay reflects on the long-standing desire of chemistry teachers to weave history into chemistry classrooms, particularly by introducing students to the discipline’s material culture. This article highlights the work of the Science History Institute to share artifact- and image-driven stories from the history of chemistry on a digital platform.
Nuts & Bolts | November 2021 Real-World Chemistry Learning Opportunities Are Right outside Your Door!
How can we help students see the connections between various fields of study which are traditionally taught separately? With the Next Generation Science Standards in hand, and eyes newly opened to a multitude of resources, a chemistry teacher took his students to learn at a local wastewater treatment plant. It left a lasting impression.
Classroom Commentary | September 2021 An Opportunity to Get Involved!
Read about one veteran chemistry teacher’s 25-year experience with the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad Program (USNCO). He shares his experience, insight, and an overview of the wonderful program. If you’ve ever thought about getting yourself or your students involved, now is your chance to learn more!
Classroom Commentary | May 2021 The Value of Integrating Real-World Projects in Science
The author of this article pulls from her experience as both a teacher and a water specialist at a government agency to inspire readers to connect real-world science learning opportunities in the classroom.
Classroom Commentary | November 2020 Getting the Facts Out About Secondary Chemistry Teaching
Misperceptions about careers in STEM secondary school teaching keep interested students from pursuing teaching and also explain why some chemistry educators may not recommend that their most successful students explore careers in teaching. The U.S. has a shortage of STEM teachers in middle and high school, and highlighting the facts about STEM teaching can help to address this predicament. Get the Facts Out is an NSF-funded project designed to give chemistry educators the tools to explain and correct misperceptions, with data on salary, benefits, and career satisfaction of STEM secondary school teachers. Chemistry educators at all levels can access the Get the Facts Out toolkit that includes resources to share with students, colleagues, and administrators — and in the process, become change agents in this crucial conversation.
Classroom Commentary | September 2020 The Importance of Teacher Training and Mentorship
In this article, the author reflects on his experiences related to mentorship and teacher training throughout a 32-year (and counting) career with the Los Angeles Unified School District. He examines several milestone events that led him to serve as a mentor and become involved in teaching training. He emphasizes the importance of both types of support networks, and encourages readers to get involved in their own areas.
Classroom Commentary | May 2019 Hands-On Science for K-8 Students
This article describes outreach efforts to bring hands-on science experiments to K-8 classes. The author shares her experience involving college students in these efforts, and provides examples of some experiments that were memorable with young students.
Classroom Commentary | November 2018 Successful Collaboration, Fostered by the American Chemical Society
This article describes the exciting collaboration between university and high school students and faculty that developed over a decade. The two main components that contribute to this successful partnership are the ChemClub and Science Coaches programs, sponsored by ACS/AACT.
Classroom Commentary | March 2018 The Science Coaches Program in Action
This article describes the very successful Science Coaches partnership between a third-grade teacher and a Ph.D. chemist, who is also her father. The authors offer insight and tips for making the best use of a Science Coach partnership, or any science visitor to your classroom.
Resource Feature | May 2017 5th Grade Chemistry — as Taught by High School Students
This end-of-the-year project for high school chemistry students involves learning and using inquiry strategies to teach chemical concepts to fifth-grade students through hands-on activities. The author outlines the project, including conversations with elementary teachers, planning logistics, field trip details, and student preparation. Read about the many rewards of a well-planned and executed project that binds the grade levels through chemistry.
Classroom Commentary | March 2017 Seeing STARS in Chemistry
Read about a science instructional coach from a rural school district who made a valuable connection with two professors from the chemistry department at North Carolina State University. Together they developed a program that extended the world of chemistry to rural middle schools. Through sustained relationships, these professors continue to share their love of chemistry, in some cases for years.
Resource Feature | May 2016 Getting Young Students Excited about Science
Have you considered teaching chemistry to your elemenatry students? This fifth grade teacher shows how easy it is to introduce chemistry into the elementary school classroom. She reviews several You Be The Chemist® activities, and explains why her students love them.
Nuts & Bolts | March 2016 Guest Speakers Bring Science to Life in an Elementary Classroom
This fifth grade teacher in Michigan works with practicing scientists to reinforce science skills, concepts, and vocabulary with his students.
Tech Tips | September 2015 Connecting Chemistry Students with Practicing Professionals
Learn how to leverage a virtual platform to connect your students to practicing professionals.
Classroom Commentary | November 2014 Access to Opportunity: Limitations to Equity in Science Education
Access to quality science education varies greatly for students across the nation, creating gaps that restrict options for many students in postsecondary education and careers. Commitment to quality science education, supported by creative, collaborative efforts with community partners, is essential to narrow these access gaps for the good of our students and our nation.