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Unlike many substances, water expands as it freezes. An ice cube takes up ~9% more volume than the water that made it!

Welcome to You Be The Chemist  for Industry!

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. Through the YBTC programs, industry members can connect with their local communities and exercise corporate responsibility.

Participation in the YBTC programs allows companies to help improve science education – raising awareness of the science of chemistry, the benefits of chemicals, and the importance of chemical safety – while also offering excellent public relations opportunities!
 

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.

Purchasing Activity Guides from CEF and donating them to local schools and/or after-school programs is an excellent first step in connecting with your community! Browse the Activity Guide page for more details and consult CEF's Community Outreach & Media Guide for in-depth outreach suggestions.


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. 

Organizing a Local Challenge in your community is an exciting way to get involved and generate a buzz in your community!

Browse the Local Challenges page for more details and consult CEF's Community Outreach & Media Guide for in-depth outreach suggestions.

 

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 bring Essential Elements to your local schools!