Summary
Students will investigate different classifications chemical reactions. This lesson is intended to not only focus on critical thinking skills to help build context, but there are no chemicals used at all, so is low budget. However, if you can afford chemicals, go take a look at the lesson Happy, Mad, Sleepy, Sad for classification of chemical reactions using real reactions (which is of course, best).
Essential Question(s)
What is the benefit of classifications?
Snapshot
Engage
Students complete a "What is classification?" Card Sort activity.
Explore
Students predict definitions based on their prior knowledge.
Explain
Students complete a Gallery Walk to learn about the five types of chemical reactions while filling out Frayer Models.
Extend
Students create their own analogies in groups on a poster.
Evaluate
Students share/act out their analogies to the whole class.
Materials
Classification pictures printed, cut out, and sorted into individual bags (attached)
Sticky easel pad paper
Sticky notes
Frayer Model cards (attached) or reusable Frayer Models
Markers (Mr. Sketch, Sharpie, etc.)
Reaction Types Gallery Walk handout (attached)
Chemical Reactions handout (attached)
Rubric handout (attached)
Dry erase markers (for reusable Frayer models)
Pencils/pens
Engage
Cut up the objects found in the Engage Card Sort. Pass out a set to each pair of students, and tell them to put the objects into groups that make sense to them.
Once the students are done, have the pairs share out how they grouped and why they grouped the way they did.
Explore
Post the following words on the board for all the students to see:
Combustion
Synthesis
Decomposition
Single Displacement
Double Displacement
Precipitation (optional)
Acid-Base (optional)
Oxidation-Reduction (optional)
Tell the pairs of students that they need to reflect over everything they know, inside and out of this class, to predict definitions and examples for each of these words. To help the students contextualize, tell them that these are categories in chemistry.
After they are done, have the pairs share out. To ensure that there is enough sharing, engage in a Take Five strategy. That is, at least five pairs need to share at least one prediction before moving on.
Explain
Students will go on a gallery walk (print off slides from Explain Chemical Reactions Type Gallery Walk and place them at 5 distinct stations around the room) to 'observe' the types of chemical reactions.
As they rotate between the stations (about 4 minutes at each station), students will fill out Frayer Models of each of the reaction types (see Explain: Frayer Models).
Extend
Students will create their own analogies to differentiate between types of reactions.
Students will work in groups of 2-4 students, and create an easel-sized poster that has the following information:
name of each reaction type
at least one analogy for each of the reaction types
at least two chemistry examples of each reaction
The posters can be graded based on the provided rubric (see Extend Rubric).
Evaluate
Student teams will present their analogies to the class. Encourage them to include as many motions or skit-like behaviors to make the presentations fun and memorable to the students.
Resources
K20 Center. (n.d.). Card Sort. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/d9908066f654727934df7bf4f506976b
K20 Center. (n.d.). Take Five. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/d9908066f654727934df7bf4f506b3f9
K20 Center. (n.d.). Frayer Model. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/d9908066f654727934df7bf4f505d709
