We launched our first official chemistry lesson today by learning about chemical names and symbols.  Students took notes from a PowerPoint slide deck which condensed the learning from Lesson 6 in the textbook.  They then had the remainder of the class period to make observations about 18 test tubes containing various chemical elements and compounds and filling in the table in their “mystery vials” handout.  For homework, students were assigned the task of completing the handout, skimming lesson 6, and reading lesson 7 in their textbook.