There isn't much money left in most 2014-2015 science department budgets. For inexpensive chemistry lab ideas, buy my lab book Chemistry on a Budget for $20.56 at amazon.com or $23 at lulu.com. It will take a few weeks to get to you, so order now!
http://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Budget-Marjorie-R-Heesemann/dp/0578129159/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389410170&sr=1-1&keywords=chemistry+on+a+budget
http://www.lulu.com/shop/marjorie-r-heesemann/chemistry-on-a-budget/paperback/product-21217600.html
This book contains 13 labs using consumable materials purchased from local stores. There are two versions of each lab, one with a ten-question conclusion and one with directions for a full lab report. This way the teacher has the option! Each lab is two pages to allow for one two-sided handout.
My past blog entry, 03/04/2015, was about Calorimetry, the measurement of the transfer of heat energy. I’m at a loss for new blog ideas – looking at the Topic List on this website, a full year of an Introductory Chemistry course is pretty much covered! – if you have topics you’d like to see more of, let me know!
The Electron Dot Diagram (or Lewis Dot Diagram) is a way to visualize bond combinations with paper and pencil, knowing that it is not a true representation of the complexities of chemical bonding and the electrons involved.
Here is one video:
Here is another video that shows a little more about the diagrams and gets into bonding:
Here is a basic electron (Lewis) dot worksheet that could be projected for a class with the examples used for a class lecture.
http://www.gpb.org/files/pdfs/gpbclassroom/chemistry/electronsDiagramsLewisStructuresWkst.pdf
This introductory electron (Lewis) dot worksheet (2 pages) has a review of atomic structure and the electron dot diagram work:
http://www.d70schools.org/teachersites/lib/redirect.php?res_id=12055
This electron (Lewis) dot worksheet contains a lot of information and provides a useful review for students:
http://www.csun.edu/~jte35633/worksheets/Chemistry/5-7LewisDotDiagrams.pdf
This electron (Lewis) dot worksheet contains many examples, including polyatomic ions:
http://images.pcmac.org/SiSFiles/Schools/TX/DesotoISD/DHS/Uploads/Forms/Zero%20Make%20Up%20Assignment%20Lewis%20Structures%2010-12.pdf
Check out the Topic List to help you to find past Blog entries.
Have a good weekend!