Are you in search of great resources for piquing your students’ or children’s interest in chemistry? Below you will find our favorite resources for teaching chemistry to elementary-aged children in a fun, engaging, and memorable manner! I have included excellent picture books, YouTube clips, links to lapbook pages and lessons, and activities to teach on atoms, the periodic table of elements, chemical reactions, states of matter, and Marie Curie.
States of Matter
Melting an ice cube to watch water take on the 3 forms of matter – We also acted out the 3 states: staying still for solid, moving around slowly for liquid, and moving across the room quickly for gas.
Our Favorite Picture Books on States of Matter
What’s the Matter in Mr. Whiskers’ Room? by Michael Elsohn Ross (Image is from amazon.com)
- The Solid Truth About States of Matter With Max Axiom, Super Scientist (Graphic Science) by Agnieszka Biskup
- What’s the Matter in Mr. Whiskers’ Room? by Michael Elsohn Ross
- What Is the World Made Of? All About Solids, Liquids, and Gases (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 2) by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld
- Matter: See It, Touch It, Taste It, Smell It (Amazing Science) by Darlene R. Stille
- Change It!: Solids, Liquids, Gases and You (Primary Physical Science) by Adrienne Mason
Our Favorite YouTube Clips on States of Matter
What’s Matter by Crash Course Kids
Atoms
Creating s & p orbitals using balloons
Creating s & p orbitals using balloons, which is one of the many fun activities from Ellen McHenry’s Elements Chemistry Unit
Our Favorite Children’s Books on Atoms and Molecules
What’s Smaller Than a Pygmy Shrew? by Robert E. Wells
I love using picture books to teach because it allows for children of all ages to enjoy and learn about what can sometimes be more complex subjects such as chemistry. Even my three year old was able to grasp the basics of atoms and molecules after we read through some of these books. Our favorites on atoms and molecules are:
- Atoms (My First Science Textbook) (Volume 1) by Mary Wissinger – Also look for the other two books in the series: Protons and Neutrons and Electrons.
- The Adventures of Adam the Atom by Casey Waid
- Ghosts and Atoms (Graphic Library: Monster Science) by Jodi Lyn Wheeler-Toppen
- What’s Smaller Than a Pygmy Shrew? by Robert E. Wells
- Molecules: The Elements and the Architecture of Everything by Theodore Gray, which isn’t a children’s book but it’s beautiful to look through
- Molecules and Atoms (Let’s Explore Our World) by Rae Bains
- Molly and Wally Molecule by Dean Badillo
- If I Met a Molecule by Noel Wilson
- Baby Loves Quarks! (Baby Loves Science) by Ruth Spiro
We also enjoyed the below YouTube videos:
- What’s the shape of a molecule?: https://youtu.be/Jq_Ca-HKh1g
- Atoms and Molecules – Basics: https://youtu.be/vlSOESXQI7o
- Crash Course Chemistry: https://youtu.be/rcKilE9CdaA
Our Favorite YouTube Clips on Atoms & Molecules
Uncertain location of electrons
Periodic Table of Elements
Periodic Table of Elements Board Game
Playing the Periodic Table of Elements Board Game, which is one of the many fun activities from Ellen McHenry’s Elements Chemistry Unit
Building NaCl molecules
Building NaCl molecules, which is one of the many fun activities from Ellen McHenry’s Elements Chemistry Unit
Our Favorite Children’s Books on the Periodic Table or on Elements
Amber’s Atoms: The First Ten Elements of the Periodic Table by E. M. Robinson (Image is from amazon.com)
- Amber’s Atoms: The First Ten Elements of the Periodic Table by E. M. Robinson
- Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe by Theodore Gray, which isn’t a children’s book but it’s beautiful to look through
- The Kid’s Book of the Elements: An Awesome Introduction to Every Known Atom in the Universe by Theodore Gray
- Story of Salt by Mark Kurlansky, which is a picture book that covers the history and features of salt in a fascinating manner
We also enjoyed the below YouTube videos:
- The Elements Book: https://youtu.be/7FesjAdIWBk
- Crash Course Chemistry: https://youtu.be/0RRVV4Diomg
Our Favorite YouTube Clips on Elements & The Periodic Table
Meet the Elements by They Might Be Giants
Chemical Bonds & Reactions
The “Magic” Disappearing Red Reaction, which is one of the many fun activities from Ellen McHenry’s Elements Chemistry Unit
Our Favorite Children’s Picture Books on Chemical Reactions
Dynamic World of Chemical Reactions with Max Axiom, Super Scientist by Agnieszka Biskup (Image is from amazon.com)
- Dynamic World of Chemical Reactions with Max Axiom, Super Scientist (Graphic Science) by Agnieszka Biskup
- The Magic School Bus Gets Baked in a Cake: A Book About Kitchen Chemistry by Joanna Cole
- How Do Molecules Stay Together? by Madeline J. Hayes
We also enjoyed the below YouTube videos:
- TED Ed What Is Chemical Equilibrium: https://youtu.be/dUMmoPdwBy4
- TED Ed How Atoms Bond: https://youtu.be/NgD9yHSJ29I
Our Favorite YouTube Video Clips on Chemical Reactions & Chemical Bonds: Bill Nye the Science Guy
Dogs Teaching Chemistry – Chemical Bonds
Marie Curie
Our Favorite Children’s Books on Marie Curie
Marie Curie and Radioactivity by Connie Colwell Miller (Book image is from amazon.com)
- Marie Curie and Radioactivity (Graphic Library: Inventions and Discovery series) by Connie Colwell Miller
- Marie Curie: Scientist Who Made Glowing Discoveries (Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Inventors & Scientists) by Mike Venezia
- Sisters in Science: Marie Curie, Bronia Dluska, and the Atomic Power of Sisterhood by Linda Elovitz Marshall and Anna And Elena Balbusso
- I am Marie Curie (Ordinary People Change the World) by Brad Meltzer
- The Value of Learning: The Story of Marie Curie (Value Tale) by Ann D. Johnson
- The Day-Glo Brothers by Chris Barton
We also enjoyed the below YouTube videos:
- Marie Curie’s Radium: Part 2 of 3: https://youtu.be/eDRk1gTvg30
- Marie Curie’s Radium: Part 3 of 3: https://youtu.be/BIIC2KYoAEo
Our Favorite YouTube Clips on Marie Curie
Explosions
(Our Grand Finale)
Explosions
To wrap up the chemistry unit, my children of course wanted to blow up something. We did the closest thing and bought sparklers and pop-ems and then discussed the chemistry involved in making them work. We watched the below videos first.
How do sparklers work?
Everyday Science: The Chemistry of Fireworks
Looking for all of my lessons and unit studies?
Over the years I have posted over 30 science and social-studies based unit studies, compromised of more than 140 lessons. For each lesson I have included activities (with photos), our favorite books and YouTube video clips, lapbook links, and other resources. I posted links to all of my unit studies and lessons at Fun, FREE Hands-on Unit Studies .
© 2013 Shannon
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