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Science lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 45 minutes

Reactants, products and word equations

Chemical reactions, acids and bases

CCSS NGSS.MS-PS1-2CCSS NGSS.MS-PS1-5England: KS3 Chemistry: Chemical reactions

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Reactants, products and word equations.

  • 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: Physical and chemical changes

Leads to: Neutralisation and naming salts; Exothermic and endothermic reactions; Balancing chemical equations

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 · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Physical and chemical changes). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Is this a physical or a chemical change: milk going sour? (physical change / chemical change) → chemical changePrompt: Is a new substance made?
  2. Which observation shows that a chemical reaction has happened? (Ice turns to water / The substance changes shape / Salt dissolves / A gas is given off and the colour changes) → A gas is given off and the colour changesPrompt: Look for signs of something new being made.
  3. Physical and chemical changes: which statement is NOT true? (All bubbles mean a chemical reaction. / Dissolving is a physical change. / In a chemical reaction, atoms are rearranged to make new substances. / Rusting needs both oxygen and water.) → All bubbles mean a chemical reaction.Prompt: Does each change make a new substance?

Hook · 5 min

  • Drop an antacid tablet in water (or show a clip) and ask whether a new substance is being made.
  • Share the objective: Reactants, products and word equations. 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: Complete the word equation: calcium + oxygen → ___
  • Step 1: calcium + oxygen → calcium 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 · 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. Complete the word equation: calcium + oxygen → ___ (carbon dioxide / calcium carbonate / calcium oxide / calcium chloride) → calcium oxidePrompt: A metal reacting with oxygen makes a metal oxide.
  2. Methane burns completely in air: methane + oxygen → carbon dioxide + ___ (water / hydrogen / carbon monoxide / nitrogen) → waterPrompt: Methane contains carbon and hydrogen. What does hydrogen become when it burns?

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. Complete the word equation: copper + oxygen → ___ (copper oxide / magnesium oxide / copper chloride / copper carbonate) → copper oxidePrompt: A metal reacting with oxygen makes a metal oxide.
  2. Word equations: which statement is NOT true? (The arrow in a word equation means "equals". / Thermal decomposition breaks a substance down using heat. / Combustion is a reaction with oxygen. / Reactants are written on the left of the arrow.) → The arrow in a word equation means "equals".Prompt: Which side of the arrow is which?

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: Physical and chemical changes.
  • 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

  • Move on to: Neutralisation and naming salts; Exothermic and endothermic reactions; Balancing chemical equations.
  • 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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Reactants, products and word equations

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Complete the word equation: calcium + oxygen → ___

    • A. calcium oxide
    • B. zinc oxide
    • C. calcium carbonate
    • D. carbon dioxide

  2. Question 2

    Calcium carbonate is heated strongly: calcium carbonate → calcium oxide + ___

    • A. hydrogen
    • B. carbon dioxide
    • C. water
    • D. oxygen

  3. Question 3

    Word equations: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Incomplete combustion can produce carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas.
    • B. Thermal decomposition breaks a substance down using heat.
    • C. Burning metal makes it lighter because mass is lost.
    • D. Combustion is a reaction with oxygen.

  4. Question 4

    Complete the word equation: iron + oxygen → ___

    • A. iron oxide
    • B. iron carbonate
    • C. carbon dioxide
    • D. calcium oxide

  5. Question 5

    In the reaction "iron + sulfur → iron sulfide", what are the reactants?

    • A. iron sulfide
    • B. sulfur and iron sulfide
    • C. iron and sulfur
    • D. iron only

  6. Question 6

    Complete the word equation: copper + oxygen → ___

    • A. copper carbonate
    • B. copper chloride
    • C. copper oxide
    • D. magnesium oxide

  7. Question 7

    Methane burns completely in air: methane + oxygen → carbon dioxide + ___

    • A. nitrogen
    • B. carbon monoxide
    • C. water
    • D. hydrogen

  8. Question 8

    Complete the word equation: zinc + oxygen → ___

    • A. zinc chloride
    • B. zinc oxide
    • C. zinc carbonate
    • D. carbon dioxide

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Answer key: Reactants, products and word equations

  1. 1. A. calcium oxide

  2. 2. B. carbon dioxide

  3. 3. C. Burning metal makes it lighter because mass is lost.

  4. 4. A. iron oxide

  5. 5. C. iron and sulfur

  6. 6. C. copper oxide

  7. 7. C. water

  8. 8. B. zinc oxide