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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: calcium + oxygen → ___ (carbon dioxide / calcium oxide / calcium chloride / zinc oxide) → calcium oxidePrompt: A metal reacting with oxygen makes a metal oxide.
  2. Methane burns completely in air: methane + oxygen → carbon dioxide + ___ (water / nitrogen / carbon monoxide / hydrogen) → waterPrompt: Methane contains carbon and hydrogen. What does hydrogen become when it burns?
  3. Word equations: which statement is NOT true? (Thermal decomposition breaks a substance down using heat. / Reactants are written on the left of the arrow. / Incomplete combustion can produce carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas. / Burning metal makes it lighter because mass is lost.) → 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: sodium + oxygen → ? → sodium oxidePrompt: When a metal reacts with oxygen it forms an oxide.
  2. A fire blanket is thrown over a burning pan. Which side of the fire triangle does it remove? (heat / oxygen / fuel / none) → oxygenPrompt: The blanket covers the flames.

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. A fire blanket is thrown over a burning pan. Which side of the fire triangle does it remove? (heat / oxygen / none / fuel) → oxygenPrompt: The blanket covers the flames.
  2. Combustion: which statement is NOT true? (Combustion is an endothermic reaction. / Hydrogen burns to make only water. / Combustion is a reaction with oxygen that releases energy. / Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide.) → Combustion is an endothermic reaction.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

    Why is a gas boiler with a poor air supply dangerous?

    • A. It produces too much oxygen
    • B. It makes the water too pure
    • C. It stops producing heat completely
    • D. Incomplete combustion produces toxic carbon monoxide

  2. Question 2

    Complete the word equation: sodium + oxygen → ?

    Answer

  3. Question 3

    Combustion: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Hydrogen burns to make only water.
    • B. Water is the best way to put out an oil fire in a pan.
    • C. Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide.
    • D. Rusting is a slow oxidation reaction.

  4. Question 4

    What are the products when methane (natural gas) burns completely?

    • A. oxygen and hydrogen
    • B. carbon monoxide and soot
    • C. methane and oxygen
    • D. carbon dioxide and water

  5. Question 5

    Complete the word equation: zinc + oxygen → ?

    Answer

  6. Question 6

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

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

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Answer key: Combustion, oxidation and the fire triangle

  1. 1. D. Incomplete combustion produces toxic carbon monoxide

  2. 2. sodium oxide

  3. 3. B. Water is the best way to put out an oil fire in a pan.

  4. 4. D. carbon dioxide and water

  5. 5. zinc oxide

  6. 6. C. fuel