Welcome to You Be The Chemist  for Educators!

The Chemical Educational Foundation's You Be The Chemist (YBTC) programs are designed to enhance K-8 science education by introducing the science of chemistry as it relates to our everyday lives. The YBTC programs provide educators with innovative means of introducing chemistry concepts to K-8 students, as well as ways to share exciting lessons with other educators.
 

YBTC Activity Guides

The YBTC Activity Guides: Lesson Plans for Making Chemistry Fun offer a variety of exciting science lesson plans, enabling educators to bring hands-on learning to students, inside and outside of the classroom. The Activity Guides are divided according to grade level, one for grades K-4 and the other for grades 5-8.

Each Activity Guide booklet contains approximately 30 educator-reviewed lesson plans, activity sheets, and a resource guide filled with safety information, tips for non-chemistry teachers, and much more.

Follow the link above for more details about the Activity Guides and how to order your copies today!
 

YBTC Challenge

The YBTC Challenge is a fun and innovative academic competition that engages 5-8 grade students in learning about important chemistry concepts, discoveries, and chemical safety. Challenge competitions are exciting events that take place across the country, encouraging the collaboration of community organizations, schools, and the chemical industry, as together, they educate students about the benefits and value of chemistry.  

Browse the Local Challenges page for more information about getting your students involved in the Challenge!

YBTC Essential Elements

YBTC Essential Elements is designed to assist K-8 educators – our “essential elements” in education – in teaching chemistry concepts through hands-on learning and connecting those concepts to students’ everyday lives. During an Essential Elements workshop, the instructor will lead educators through a full 5E learning cycle utilizing a lesson from the YBTC Activity Guides. Following the lesson, educators will have the opportunity to discuss the lesson further and ask questions. The workshop will then proceed with additional lessons from the Activity Guides.

Visit the Essential Elements page for more information on the 5E learning cycle format and how to hold a workshop at your school!