periodic table are better conductors of heat and electricity? speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text. Chem4kids provides a comprehensive, student-friendly, tutorial with very good graphics and quizzes on the periodic table of elements (and many other chemistry topics for middle school.) Videos: Teaching Channel Video Periodic Table Ferocious Elements: This video makes the periodic table come alive and make sense for students. The video is about 14 minutes. Education Portal Chemistry video Lessons: Explaining Matter with Elements, Atoms, and Molecules: Characteristics of Elements – free two hour, on-line interactive inquiry-based content module for teachers from NSTA Learning Center. You don’t have to be a member of NSTA to use this free resource. Very detailed lesson plans and background information. Will take time to read. Additional resources: Assessments: Webquest to discover the history of the Periodic Table, its organization, and family characteristics. (All websites not listed on and answer key from the site. (Science Practice 8) Literacy RST Performance task: Students virtually test 8 elements for physical properties and then identify elements using a table provided. (Science Practice 3) Literacy RST 6- Performance task: You are chemist working for the State Environmental Monitoring Agency (SEMA). You are a member of a team that consists of a project manager, a technology coordinator, a research analyst, and a senior chemist. You must agree on who has each role, but the work must be equally shared on determining the relevance of elements and their properties. Discuss what you would do within this agency and apply it to the concepts. (Science Practice 1) Literacy RST 6-8.
original interacting substances. 3. Chemical changes result from the interaction of two or more two substances, elements, or compounds. 4. Materials that result from a chemical change have physical and chemical properties that are different from the original interacting substances. products in a chemical equation related? 3. How can you classify a reaction as exothermic or endothermic? measurements will be recorded, provide evidence to support explanations or solutions and how many data are needed to support a claim.) Science Activity a Day investigation: Balancing chemical equations p. 21 Limiting reactants p. 23 Labs: Student balancing equations game, you can decide on the number of questions and between 3 difficulty levels - Six Types of Reactions worksheet with answer key. Students balance the equations and identify the type of reaction. Hands on activity which uses index cards to balance equations is found at . This link includes explanations for the teacher, answers, and pdf of cards and all materials. This link includes explanations for the teacher, answers, and pdf of cards and all materials. Determine if a change is Physical or Chemical and see explanations why. and Informational text Performance task: With a peer, complete the handout. Afterwards, create a graphic organizer that includes the parts of a chemical equation. Give a real world example of how equations must be balanced. (Science Practice 8)
Scaffolded (Unpacked) ideas Materials that result from a chemical change have physical and chemical properties that are different from the original interacting substances. Essential questions: 1. How can you determine whether a substance is an acid or base using an indicator? 2. Describe the difference between an acid and a base in relationship to its pH. with an indicator. Compare and contrast the properties and uses of acids and bases. Use the pH scale to compare the strengths of a variety of acids and bases. Design an experiment to determine what happens when an acid is mixed with a base. Construct a word equation for a neutralization reaction. 8 Chapter 11 Section 3: Acidic and Basic Solutions p. 322-329. Recommended activities: (For labs and investigations, allow students to identify independent and dependent variables and controls, what tools are needed to do the gathering, how measurements will be recorded, provide evidence to support explanations or solutions and how many data are needed to support a claim.) Labs: Science Activity a Day investigation: Acids and bases p.16 Directions for a lab investigation into the properties of acids and bases using cabbage juice indicator is available at In this activity, students will use their knowledge of color changes with red cabbage indicator to neutralize an acidic solution with a base and then neutralize a basic solution with an acid. Find directions for this lab at A hands-on activity that relates acid-base chemistry to engineering is described at A one-page summary defining acids and bases is available at A more complete explanation of the properties and reactions of acids and bases demonstration of a color change using universal pH indicator. Students change the concentrations of an acid and a base and use universal indicator to test the pH of the resulting solutions. Students see an animation showing that water molecules interact and separate into the H3O+ ion and the OH− ion. Students see that the pH of a solution is related to the concentration of these ions in water. This lesson plan is available at