Let students spend a day working on some chemistry games. Have them visit Sheppard Software, where the games have different levels. Their project can be to get to the highest level of learning possible on the website. For example, they will start off by learning the names of the different elements on the periodic table, and then try to identify each element by its atomic mass only.
Using WebQuests, students will engage in projects that introduce them to some basic concepts of chemistry and teach them how to use this information in potential real-life situations. For example, they could learn how to solve the problem of acid rain with the Acid Rain WebQuest, or they can learn about the integration of chemistry and astronomy by visiting the Cosmic Chemistry WebQuest. Divide students up into groups or allow them to work individually.
Assign each student a different topic to cover or allow them to pick their own topics. Some students might look at the history of a particular discovery, while others could research how atoms are formed and structured. Whatever the topic is, require the students to use online resources for their research. If the school has a research database, teach them how to use it, or show them how to search only for sites that have .gov or .edu at the end.
If you do not have the space or supplies available to perform actual labs in the classroom, allow the students to visit lab websites, where they can watch a virtual lab. A number of possibilities exist for such an undertaking, including virtual labs focused on kinetic molecular theory, structure of ionic solids and ligand field theory. Assign a short worksheet after the students watch the lab to ensure that they understand the most important ideas.