Lesson G1: Environmental chemistry

Main activities

G1a Test your soil

For each group:

  • two centrifuge tubes
  • universal indicator solution
  • dry soil sample
  • access to a centrifuge
  • indicator colour chart

Lesson G2: Acid rain

Starter activities

Capture interest (1)

  • three samples of water at different pH values (one neutral, other two acidic)
  • test tubes
  • dropper
  • universal indicator solution
  • universal indicator paper
  • colour chart for universal indicator
  • pH meter

Main activities

G2a Acid rain and plants

For each group:

  • cotton wool
  • two polythene bags
  • two Petri dishes of cress seedlings
  • two elastic bands
  • two Petri dish lids
  • two sticky labels
  • sodium metabisulphite solution
  • two dropping pipettes labelled ‘acid rain’
  • distilled water

Cress seeds will need to be sown a few days in advance of the lesson.

G2b Take a rain check

For each group:

  • plastic drinks bottles (about 5)
  • universal indicator paper (1 book)
  • scissors

For the Teacher demonstration:

  • box of matches
  • universal indicator solution
  • test tube
  • clamp stand and clamp

Lesson G2 Investigate: What makes rainwater acidic?

Starter activities

  • samples of water at different pH values (one neutral, one acidic, one alkaline)
  • test tubes
  • dropper
  • universal indicator paper
  • colour chart for universal indicator
  • pH meter

Lesson G3: More about acid rain

Main activities

G3a Acid, metal and rock

For each group:

  • watch glasses
  • dropper
  • hand lens
  • very dilute sulphuric acid (0.005 mol dm–3)
  • small pieces of zinc, iron and lead
  • small pieces of chalk, marble and granite

Lesson G4: Global Warming

Starter activities

Capture interest (1)

  • glass jar or plastic propagator
  • computer
  • interface with two temperature probes
  • stand and two clamps
  • access to a sunny window sill

Capture interest (2)

  • glass filter funnel
  • U-tube
  • side arm tube
  • connecting glass tubing
  • pump
  • candle
  • limewater
  • trough
  • ice

Lesson G5: Looking at the evidence

Main activities

G5a Weather forecast

  • printed copies of newspaper weather forecasts
  • video of a TV weather forecast.

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This list is in Microsoft Word, so it can be customised to fit each school’s requirements.