How to Use ChemMatters

Incorporate it into instruction, or assign it as supplemental reading. Create an emergency lesson plan or offer extra credit. ChemMatters can be useful to you by serving as both a teaching and student resource. Here are several ways you can use ChemMatters to its fullest potential:

Integrate into daily instruction

After you’ve introduced a new concept, use an article from ChemMatters to illustrate how it relates to everyday life. Or, consider starting with a concept in ChemMatters and working backwards to incorporate the chemistry in your lesson plan.

Assign as supplemental reading

Because ChemMatters explains chemistry behind everyday phenomena, it makes great supplementary reading. Students will be able to see the applications behind chemical theory and how it affects the world around them.

Provide an opportunity to earn extra credit

Assign the “Student Questions” found in the Teacher’s Guide from each edition as extra credit. Or consider giving students the opportunity to write their own ChemMatters article by explaining the chemistry concepts behind an everyday activity or product. Or, allow students to read a ChemMatters article and develop a presentation for the entire class where they will explain the chemistry involved in the article.

Assign as a homework assignment

Use the questions found in the Teacher’s Guide from each issue as the basis for a homework assignment that requires students to read the article and respond to it.

Encourage students to use as a resource for research reports

Because of ChemMatters broad coverage and intended audience, it makes a great starting place for students writing a research report involving chemistry or science. Each article is written in an accessible manner, allowing students to grasp chemistry concepts which they can then research further or incorporate into a presentation or research paper directly.

Provide as a resource for in-class reading and discussion

Because ChemMatters incorporates basic chemistry principles, it will reinforce lessons from class while also exposing students to new information.

Use as a key component of an emergency lesson plan

With sample questions and background information available for each story in every edition of ChemMatters, having an emergency lesson plan couldn’t be easier! Use the article as the basis for instruction, with the background information as supplementary teaching material, and have students answer the “Student Questions” in class.

Visit the ChemMatters Archive for past issues and teacher guides.