Activity Eight!

Activity 8: Exploration of Chemistry!

For activity 8, students have a choice to explore other topics of chemistry presented in the PhET simulations.

Tasks to be completed:

1. Choose any Teaching Idea from any of the Chemistry Simulations (http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/category/chemistry ) and post your results/data and/or answers on your blog.

2. Work with any of the Chemistry Simulations to create your own Teaching Idea. The criteria for this is as follows:

a. must identify and meet three (3) science education standards
b. must be original work
c. must be scientifically accurate and appropriate for the directed grade level.

Standards:

A.4.1 When conducting science investigations, ask and answer questions that will help decide the general areas of science being addressed.

D.4.3 Understand that substances can exist in different states-solid, liquid, gas.

D.4.4 Observe and describe changes in form, temperature, color, speed, and direction of objects and construct explanations for the changes.

Procedure:

            To begin this lesson discuss with the class the different phases of matter, solid, liquid, and gas.  For the first day take water and fill an ice tray.  Talk to the class about what happens to the molecules as it changes from the liquid to the ice.  The next day, take the ice tray out of the freezer and show the class.  Review what happens to the molecules.  Then place the ice cubes into a glass and let it melt for a day.  Come back the next day and talk about what happens to the molecules when ice turns to liquid.  The get a hot plate and heat the water.  While the water is heating discuss with the class what is happening to the molecules to turn the liquid into a gas.  Now separate the class into groups and hand out a worksheet that they can discuss what happens to the molecules and draw the phases changing.  Then head to the computer lab and have the students complete the States of Matter simulation with using water.  Have them practice heating and cooling the molecules while connecting it to what they learned from the experiments in the classroom.