Episode 26: Why I Teach Environmental Chemistry (Even When It’s Not in the Standards)

Episode 26: Why I Teach Environmental Chemistry (Even When It’s Not in the Standards)

Let’s be honest…this time of year can feel a little chaotic.

Testing is coming, students are getting a little squirrely 😅, and it’s easy to feel like you just need to “stick to the standards” and push through.

But this is actually one of my favorite times of year to teach something a little different.

In this episode, I’m sharing why I teach a standalone Environmental Chemistry unit around Earth Day (April 22nd)—even though it’s not technically required—and why it ends up being one of the most meaningful units of the year for my students.

🧪 In This Episode, I Share:

🌍 Why This Unit Matters (More Than You Think)

• Why this is the time of year students start asking, “When am I ever going to use this?”
• How environmental chemistry helps answer that question in a real and relevant way

🧪 The Ozone Layer (A Win for Science)

• How I use the ozone layer to show students a problem we actually solved
• Easy connections to catalysts and reaction chemistry
• Why this topic shows up again in AP courses

🌊 Acid Rain & Ocean Acidification

• Real-world examples students immediately understand (food webs, oceans, even statues!)
• How I use this as either an introduction to pH or a meaningful application
• Helping students see why “small” pH changes actually matter

🍺 The Root Beer Lab (Student Favorite)

• A fun, memorable lab tied to ocean acidification
• How I pair it with a short video to deepen understanding
• Why this is one of those labs students actually remember

☀️ Greenhouse Effect Lab

• A super simple setup using beakers, plastic wrap, and thermometers
• How students can actually see heat being trapped
• Easy way to reinforce variables and experimental design

🔥 Sneaky Content Review (Without Feeling Like Review)

• Bringing in thermodynamics (like how water holds heat)
• Reinforcing key chemistry concepts in a way that feels relevant—not repetitive

🎁 Resources Mentioned

🎬 Freebie:

Environmental Movie Reflection Sheet

If you’re showing any environmental videos, this makes it way more than just a “movie day.”

👉 Grab it here: [link]

🛍️ Classroom Resource:

Carbon Cycle Activity

A simple, ready-to-use activity using NPR clips to help students understand carbon and bonding.

👉 Grab it here: [link]

🧪 Coming Soon: Lab Membership (Launching October 1) 

👉 Join the waitlist here: [link]

If you love labs like the ones in this episode but want everything organized and ready to go… That’s exactly what I’m building inside the Lab Membership—complete labs, setup support, and classroom-tested systems.

🎧 What’s Coming Next Next week, I’m breaking down one of my favorite activities from this unit—the Ocean Acidification + Root Beer Lab—so you can easily bring it into your classroom.

💬 Final Thought

This unit isn’t about adding “one more thing” to your plate. It’s about giving students a moment where they finally think:

👉 “Oh…this actually matters.” And honestly…those are the lessons they remember.

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