The chemical origin of life on earth has been used as a conceptual framework in an introductory, undergraduate chemistry course. The course explores the sequence of events through which life is believed to have emerged, from atoms to molecules to macromolecular systems, and uses this framework to teach basic chemical concepts. The results of this study support the conclusion that the context of the chemical origin of life provides a rich and intellectually stimulating framework for students to learn fundamental concepts and appreciate chemistry. (Contains 4 tables, 7 boxes, and 1 figure.)