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Science lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 45 minutes

Elements, compounds and mixtures

Atoms, elements and the periodic table

CCSS NGSS.MS-PS1-1England: KS3 Chemistry: Atoms, elements and compoundsEngland: KS3 Chemistry: Pure and impure substances

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Elements, compounds and mixtures.

  • 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: Elements and their symbols

Leads to: Chemical formulae

Materials: Periodic tables, Atom model kits, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Elements and their symbols). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. What is the chemical symbol for sulfur? (Sl / Sr / Si / S) → SPrompt: Symbols have one capital letter, sometimes followed by a small letter.
  2. Which element has the symbol Ag? (silver / chlorine / bromine / phosphorus) → silverPrompt: Some symbols come from Latin names: Fe (ferrum), Cu (cuprum), Na (natrium), K (kalium), Ag (argentum), Au (aurum), Pb (plumbum).
  3. Type the chemical symbol for phosphorus. Use a capital letter, then a small letter if needed. → PPrompt: It may come from the Latin name.

Hook · 5 min

  • Show the periodic table and ask what patterns students can see before anything is explained.
  • Share the objective: Elements, compounds and mixtures. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Is water (H₂O) an element, a compound or a mixture?
  • Step 1: A compound has two or more elements chemically joined in fixed proportions.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: compound
  • Answer: compound
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 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. Is glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) an element, a compound or a mixture? (element / compound / mixture) → compoundPrompt: How many types of atom are there?
  2. Sodium is a reactive metal and chlorine is a poisonous gas. What is sodium chloride like? (table salt, which is safe to eat in small amounts / exactly like sodium / a poisonous gas / a shiny metal) → table salt, which is safe to eat in small amountsPrompt: A compound can be very different from its elements.

You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Sodium is a reactive metal and chlorine is a poisonous gas. What is sodium chloride like? (a shiny metal / exactly like sodium / table salt, which is safe to eat in small amounts / a poisonous gas) → table salt, which is safe to eat in small amountsPrompt: A compound can be very different from its elements.
  2. Is air an element, a compound or a mixture? (element / compound / mixture) → mixturePrompt: How many types of atom are there?

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: Elements and their symbols.
  • Use concrete materials: periodic tables.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Chemical formulae.
  • 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-6.

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

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Elements, compounds and mixtures

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Elements and compounds: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Air is a mixture.
    • B. A compound contains two or more elements chemically joined.
    • C. Mixtures can be separated by physical methods such as filtering.
    • D. Water is an element.

  2. Question 2

    What is the smallest particle of an element that still has its properties?

    • A. a cell
    • B. a crystal
    • C. a mixture
    • D. an atom

  3. Question 3

    Is orange juice an element, a compound or a mixture?

    • A. element
    • B. compound
    • C. mixture

  4. Question 4

    Sodium is a reactive metal and chlorine is a poisonous gas. What is sodium chloride like?

    • A. a shiny metal
    • B. table salt, which is safe to eat in small amounts
    • C. a poisonous gas
    • D. exactly like sodium

  5. Question 5

    Is soil an element, a compound or a mixture?

    • A. element
    • B. compound
    • C. mixture

  6. Question 6

    How many elements are there in water, H₂O?

    • A. 3
    • B. 1
    • C. 4
    • D. 2

  7. Question 7

    Is air an element, a compound or a mixture?

    • A. element
    • B. compound
    • C. mixture

  8. Question 8

    Iron and sulfur are heated together and form iron sulfide. Why is iron sulfide a compound, not a mixture?

    • A. It can be separated with a magnet
    • B. It contains iron
    • C. The elements are chemically joined, and a magnet no longer separates the iron
    • D. It is a powder

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Answer key: Elements, compounds and mixtures

  1. 1. D. Water is an element.

  2. 2. D. an atom

  3. 3. C. mixture

  4. 4. B. table salt, which is safe to eat in small amounts

  5. 5. C. mixture

  6. 6. D. 2

  7. 7. C. mixture

  8. 8. C. The elements are chemically joined, and a magnet no longer separates the iron