Introduction to Chemistry - Digital Unit Plan Template

Unit Title: Introduction to Chemistry Name: Anna Plett

Content Area: Physical Science Grade Level: 8th/9th
CA Content Standard(s)/Common Core Standard(s):

MS-PS1-1. Develop models to describe the atomic composition of simple molecules and extended structures.

MS-PS1-2. Analyze and interpret data on the properties of substances before and after the substances interact to determine if a chemical reaction has
occurred.

MS-PS1-5. Develop and use a model to describe how the total number of atoms does not change in a chemical reaction and thus mass is conserved.

Big Ideas/Unit Goals:

Big Ideas:

What does matter consist of?

- The Structure of the Atom
- Molecules: Combinations of Atoms
- The Periodic Table

How does change occur?

- Physical vs Chemical Changes
- Conservation of Mass

Student Learning Objectives

1. Students will remember and label all three major components of the atom.
2. Students will categorize common changes as either physical or chemical based on criteria learned in this unit.
3. Students will work in groups to inventory atoms before and after model reaction to demonstrate conservation of mass, both by total mass and by
atom-type.
4. Students will create posters showing the conservation of mass in their group's reaction.
21st Century Skills

Creativity and Innovation

Communication and Collaboration
Social and Cross-Cultural Skills

Unit Summary:

In this unit, you will learn about atoms: the building blocks from which every material is made. The periodic table is how we organize and think about
the different kinds of atoms there are. Different combinations and arrangements of atoms make up different molecules. When these arrangements
change, that is called a chemical change, or reaction. Typically, chemical changes are thought to be irreversible, like cookies baking. However,
physical changes can go back and forth. Some physical changes we will discuss include ice melting and water boiling.

Please proceed through this unit in order (1, 2, 3). First, you will learn about the components of an atom in Lesson 1. This presentation will also
introduce you to the other big ideas as well. Lesson 2 is more detailed with regards to physical and chemical changes and the conservation of mass.
Lesson 3 is a graphic organizer-based group poster that will solidify the principle of the conservation of mass. You will use this poster to demonstrate
how every atom present before a chemical change occurs is still present afterwards. The Assessments page is for your reference so that you can track
your learning and know when to expect different assignments. At the end of the unit, we will have a review day and then an exam. Don’t fret, most of
the points for this unit are in the activities we will do throughout!

Assessment Plan:
Entry-Level: Formative: Summative:
Anticipation Guide Parts of the Atom Worksheet Conservation of Mass Group Poster
Vocabulary Crossword End-of-Unit Exam
Physical/Chemical Changes Worksheet
In-Class Flashcard Game

Lesson 1 (Teacher Lecture)

Student Learning
Objective:
1. Students will remember and
label all three major
components of the atom.
Acceptable Lesson Activities:
Evidence
(Assessments): Lesson 1 Guided Notes will help student engagement and participation during the
lecture and be useful for studying throughout the unit. Students will track with the
1. Parts of the Atom presentation and interact with the questions posed throughout. Just introduces
Worksheet SLO#2… more on that in the Webercise. (F)

2. Students will categorize
common changes as either
physical or chemical based on
criteria learned in this unit.
Parts of the Atom Worksheet will solidify SLO #1 and give students a visual image to fit
2. Vocabulary into their schema of the atom by filling out a diagram labeling the parts of the atom.
Crossword They will also practice reading some squares of the periodic table.(F)
Vocabulary Crossword solidifies vocabulary for the rest of the unit. Requires lower
level matching of terms of the unit to their definitions. These terms are important for
understanding the concepts that will continue to be discussed. (F)

Lesson 2 (Webercise/ iPad Lesson)

Student Learning Acceptable Lesson Activities:
Objective: Evidence:
The Webercise in Lesson 2 will go over chemical and physical changes in more detail
2. Students will categorize 1. Phys/Chem than the introduction in the Prezi, as well as introduce the principle of the conservation
common changes as either Changes Worksheet of mass. Students will choose their reaction for the poster-project. (F)
physical or chemical based on
criteria learned in this unit. 2. In-Class Physical and Chemical Changes Worksheet will ask students to identify the differences
Flashcard Game between physical and chemical changes as a concept, and it will also ask them to
3. Students will work in classify whether some changes are physical or chemical. (F)
groups to inventory atoms
before and after model The flashcard game will be an in-class activity, for higher level vocabulary recall and
reaction to demonstrate communication techniques. We will do more practice problems in a fun, semi-
conservation of mass, both by competitive format. (F)
total mass and by atom-type.

Lesson 3 (Graphic Organizer)

Student Learning Acceptable Lesson Activities:
Objective: Evidence:
Lesson 3 is a graphic organizer-based poster project where students will work in
3. Students will work in 1. Conservation of collaborative groups, delving a little deeper into just one chemical reaction and show
groups to inventory atoms Mass Poster how it follows the conservation of mass. They will have roles in the group, and one
before and after model student will present the poster. This assignment is worth the most points of the entire
reaction to demonstrate 2. End-of-Unit unit. Students will be graded individually by effort and fair input (my observations and
conservation of mass, both by Exam their reflections, hopefully full points here for everyone) and as a group on their poster.
total mass and by atom-type. Their reflections will also guide the review session before the exam. (S)
4. Students will create posters After a post-project reflection and a class period to review, we will have the end-of-unit
showing the conservation of exam. Only 10-20% of the unit grade, this covers all 3 common core standards chosen
mass in their group's reaction. for this unit (above). (S)

Unit Resources and Useful Websites:

Useful Links

The Atom - https://sciencestruck.com/labeled-atom-diagram

Molecules, Compounds, and Atoms Presentation - https://prezi.com/77smfdicrj_5/8th-grade-molecules-compounds-and-mixtures/
Periodic Table of Common Things - http://elements.wlonk.com/Elements_Pics_11x8.5.pdf
Physical vs Chemical Change Info Site - http://www.ric.edu/faculty/ptiskus/chemical/
Conservation of Mass History and Discovery - https://www.saddlespace.org/whittakerm/science/cms_page/view/7795217

Digital Interactives

Physical vs Chemical Change Quizlet - http://www.glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/science/virtual_labs/E03/E03.html

Balancing Simple Chemical Equations - https://education.jlab.org/elementbalancing/

Poster Project Specific Websites

Garbage Burning - https://www.webelements.com/carbon/chemistry.html

Steel Screw Rusting - http://blog.growingwithscience.com/2013/03/the-chemistry-of-rust-oxidation/
Sulfuric Acid Reacts with Zinc - http://www.nhehs.org.uk/chemistry/_Sulphuric_Acid_Zinc.html

Videos

The Elements Song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGM-wSKFBpo

The Atom - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukGLH_NrFH8
The Periodic Table, an overview - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLSfgNxoVGk
How to read the Periodic Table Squares - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc9tEUqUmKw