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The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

A Case of the Missing Cake: Physical and Chemical Change

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A Case of the Missing Cake: Physical and Chemical Change

A 6th grade STEM lesson

Michaella Banate

September 2022

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Notes for teachers

List of Materials

Crime Lab Analysis Experiment

(Students will work as a team and follow the procedures in their task cards)

Substances:

· Baking powder

· Cornstarch

· Baking Soda

· Powdered Sugar

  • This lesson takes place in a classroom for one or more hours
  • Students may work in small groups of 2-4.
  • An emphasis on the target (Solving mystery based on physical and chemical change)
  • Facilitate student reflection on how physical and chemical change can be observed in daily life situations

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Next Generation Science Standards

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.

Standards Assessed:

6.P1U1.1: Analyze and interpret data to show that changes in states of matter are caused by different rates of movement of atoms in solids, liquids, and gases.

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.

Science and Engineering Practices

  • ask questions and define problems
  • develop and use models
  • plan and carry out investigations
  • analyze and interpret data
  • use mathematical and computational thinking
  • construct explanations and design solutions
  • engage in argument from evidence
  • obtain, evaluate and communicate information

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Objective:

Learning Target: I CAN observe and classify physical and chemical changes

Why: So I CAN describe how matter could change its state

How: I will know I have accomplished this when I can distinguish observable properties of physical and chemical changes through experiment investigation

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Agenda Day 1 (60 minutes)

Introduction to the CSI Investigation

(The teacher will act as the primary investigator and will let the students act as Crime lab specialists. Using their knowledge about evidences of chemical and physical change, they will unravel the Mystery of the Missing Cake)

Crime Lab Analysis Experiment

(Students will work as a team and follow the procedures in their task cards)

They should be able to record their data based on the results.

Crime Lab Post Analysis Experiment

(Students will work as a team and follow the procedures in their task cards)

Substances found in:

· Crime Scene, Suspect A, Suspect B, Suspect C

They should be able to record their data based on the results

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Essential Question

How are physical changes in matter different from chemical changes in matter?

What are the observable physical and chemical properties in physical and chemical change?

How can we use physical and chemical change in real life situations?

Picture Addition Game

Students will guess the word based on pictures and adding them to form one single word. This is part of their Catalyst (Bell work)

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CSI Mystery

Students will work in groups to solve the mystery. Using the materials, they will investigate who stole the cake.

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Assessment

Using chalk markers, each table will make a bubble map on their desks to draw a bubble map on physical and chemical changes.

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Differentiation

  • Make sure to walk around the room and check in with students as they work. Help struggling students.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment