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Science lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 30 minutes

Combustion, oxidation and the fire triangle

Chemical reactions, acids and bases

CCSS NGSS.MS-PS1-2England: KS3 Chemistry: Chemical reactions

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Combustion, oxidation and the fire triangle.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Reactants, products and word equations

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Teacher demo or video, Indicator color chart, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Reactants, products and word equations). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Complete the word equation: iron + oxygen → ___ (iron chloride / carbon dioxide / iron oxide / magnesium oxide) → iron oxidePrompt: A metal reacting with oxygen makes a metal oxide.
  2. Why does a candle under a glass jar go out? (Glass puts out flames / The oxygen inside is used up / The wax turns into water / The jar gets too heavy) → The oxygen inside is used upPrompt: What does burning use from the air?
  3. Word equations: which statement is NOT true? (Burning metal makes it lighter because mass is lost. / Combustion is a reaction with oxygen. / Reactants are written on the left of the arrow. / Thermal decomposition breaks a substance down using heat.) → Burning metal makes it lighter because mass is lost.Prompt: Which side of the arrow is which?

Hook · 3 min

  • Drop an antacid tablet in water (or show a clip) and ask whether a new substance is being made.
  • Share the objective: Combustion, oxidation and the fire triangle. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Complete the word equation: calcium + oxygen → ?
  • Step 1: metal + oxygen → metal oxide
  • Step 2: So the answer is: calcium oxide
  • Answer: calcium oxide
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Complete the word equation: magnesium + oxygen → ? → magnesium oxidePrompt: When a metal reacts with oxygen it forms an oxide.
  2. Firefighters cut a firebreak (a strip with no trees) in front of a wildfire. Which side of the fire triangle does this remove? (heat / water / fuel / oxygen) → fuelPrompt: What does the fire need to keep spreading?

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Complete the word equation: magnesium + oxygen → ? → magnesium oxidePrompt: When a metal reacts with oxygen it forms an oxide.
  2. Combustion: which statement is NOT true? (Hydrogen burns to make only water. / Rusting is a slow oxidation reaction. / Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide. / A fire can burn without oxygen.) → A fire can burn without oxygen.Prompt: Is energy taken in or given out when something burns?

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Reactants, products and word equations.
  • Use concrete materials: teacher demo or video.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-7.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Combustion, oxidation and the fire triangle

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Complete the word equation: calcium + oxygen → ?

    Answer

  2. Question 2

    Combustion: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. A fire can burn without oxygen.
    • B. Hydrogen burns to make only water.
    • C. Rusting is a slow oxidation reaction.
    • D. Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide.

  3. Question 3

    Firefighters cut a firebreak (a strip with no trees) in front of a wildfire. Which side of the fire triangle does this remove?

    • A. water
    • B. fuel
    • C. heat
    • D. oxygen

  4. Question 4

    Complete the word equation: aluminium + oxygen → ?

    Answer

  5. Question 5

    A fire blanket is thrown over a burning pan. Which side of the fire triangle does it remove?

    • A. oxygen
    • B. none
    • C. fuel
    • D. heat

  6. Question 6

    Complete the word equation: zinc + oxygen → ?

    Answer

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Answer key: Combustion, oxidation and the fire triangle

  1. 1. calcium oxide

  2. 2. A. A fire can burn without oxygen.

  3. 3. B. fuel

  4. 4. aluminium oxide

  5. 5. A. oxygen

  6. 6. zinc oxide