Friday, 12 September 2014

Fire - Year 9 Everyday Chemistry

We are currently answering the question "how is chemistry used for in everyday life?". So far, we have looked at what chemical and physical changes are and they have also researched a topic of their choice and they had to identify the chemistry involved.  The topics included bombs, glass and baking. It invited lots of discussion and they connected with the research.  It also highlighted the need to develop teamwork skills and to find different ways for them to share what they find out.

We are moving forward into looking at reaction rates and am going to base it around fire to begin with. It is a great context to revisit chemical and physical change. It also means that I can build on their prior knowledge when introducing the idea of reaction rates.

The sciencelearn website has got some great resources that I can use in the classroom.

http://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/Contexts/Fire/Teaching-and-Learning-Approaches/Alternative-conceptions-about-fire

http://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/Contexts/Fire/Teaching-and-Learning-Approaches/The-great-candle-experiment

http://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/Contexts/Fire/Teaching-and-Learning-Approaches/Light-a-candle

This will be of use too, http://arb.nzcer.org.nz/resources/science/material/6000/mw6292.htm

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