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Alien Chemistry Lesson Plan (2nd Class)
For this lesson we will be looking at chemical reaction: When two or more substances mix together and change into something brand new.
The class are space chemists analysing a fluid sample brought back from a newly discovered alien planet- Planet Wicklow.
Resources :
Chopped red cabbage boiled in water
Clear plastic cups,
lemon juice
Baking soda mixed with water .
Activity:
Students will be divided into small table groups. each group will be given three clear cups containing:
Cup A: Clear “Alien Acid” (Lemon juice).
Cup B: Clear “Alien Alkaline” (Baking soda water).
Cup C: Purple “Alien Indicator Fluid” (Red cabbage water).
I will ask students to predict what will happen if they drip the purple fluid into Cup A and Cup B.- record their predictions with their group
Have them use plastic pipettes to mix the fluids.
Cup A turns bright pink/red (acid) and Cup B turns bright green/blue (base). They have observed an acid-base chemical reaction using a natural indicator.
Reflection :Each group review their predictions – what they got right and what they got wrong.
Have the students think about what other substances they could mix. To finish up each student will complete the following sentence:
Next time in science, I want to try testing………
Lesson plan for 2nd class:
Promoting environmental awareness and care. Caring for the environment
~Facilitating students in investigating through Observing, Predicting, Exploring, and Recording.
Objective: Students will use their five senses to investigate classroom materials, make predictions, and complete a checklist regarding their own science skills.
Discuss with the students what the following terms mean:
Predict: To make a smart guess about what will happen next.
Observe: To look, listen, feel, smell, or taste closely to gather information.
Evaluate: To check how well we did and what we can improve.
Required Materials
Mystery Boxes: 3 shoeboxes containing hidden everyday classroom items (e.g., a bumpy pinecone, a crinkly leaf, a smooth stone).
Student Worksheet: A simple traffic-light coloured “My Science Journey” self-assessment sheet (Red = Needs help, Yellow = Getting there, Green = I can do it!).
Magnifying glasses and plastic sorting trays.
The Mystery Box Challenge
Place three sealed shoeboxes with hand-holes cut out on my desk.
Introduce the concept of a Scientist. Explain that today, the students are going to act as both scientists and inspectors evaluating how well they use their scientific skills.
Invite a student volunteer to put their hand inside a box without looking.
Skill Action: Ask the student to observe using only touch. Ask prompt questions: Is it smooth or rough? Hard or soft? Heavy or light?
Have the rest of the class predict what item is inside based on the student’s descriptions before it is revealed.
Lesson plan for second class:
Students will identify the shapes of the Sun, Earth, and Moon, order them by size, and demonstrate how they move around each other.
We will discuss and research following concepts:
Sphere: A perfectly round 3D ball shape.
Orbit: The path one object takes around another.
Rotate: To spin in place like a top.
Required Materials
A football (Sun), a tennis ball (Earth), and a marble (Moon) to show scale.
A torch.
Paper plates, colouring pencils, and metal split pins for the craft.
We will begin with a group discussion asking students what they see in the sky during the day versus at night. We will discuss the common misconception that the Earth is flat or that the Sun and Moon are flat circles. Show a globe or ball to establish that all three objects are spheres. Holding up the basketball, tennis ball, and marble I will ave students guess which object represents the Sun, Earth, and Moon. I will then explain that the Sun is the largest (a giant star), the Earth is medium-sized (our home planet), and the Moon is the smallest (Earth’s natural satellite). We will then clear a space in the classroom and pick three student volunteers to act as the space bodies.
The Sun stands in the centre holding a flashlight.
The Earth slowly walks in a wide circle (orbits) around the Sun while slowly spinning in place (rotating). I will shine the torch on the spinning Earth to show how the side facing the light experiences daytime, while the side facing away experiences night.
Hi Siobhan
The use of shadows is a great idea- I think young children can often find the concept of shadows scary so to embrace it as an aspect of science and learning is wonderful. Thank you for the post.
Hi Jessica
I really like the idea of animals in the ice cube – its such a simple idea but I think students would love to be part of freeing the animals and gives great opportunity for discussion around our planet and caring for the world we share with animals.
Lesson plan on constellations for second class.
Objectives:
Understand what a constellation is and be able to identify one well known constellations.
Resources:
Punched hole constellation cards
Black construction paper
Chalk
Hole punch and yellow paper
Torch
Start by discussing with the students what we see in the night sky. Are there shapes in the sky that are always the same – do we know any of the patterns we see in the sky.
Darken out the room and use our torch to project constellation shapes on the wall- students to identify the shapes- Orion (The Hunter), Ursa Major (Big dipper) and Cassiopeia (The Queen). Why were they given these names? Look at the shape a to understand the names we have given the constellations. Explain that constellations are very far apart but appear always appear in the same shape.
Use Chalk and black card to create their own constellation and present the name to the class.
Taking photographs is a great idea- I have found students love the opportunity to research using technology in its various formats. Thank you for this post.
Lesson for second class on Gravity
Objectives:
Explain that gravity is a force that pulls things towards the earth.
Predict what will happen when different things are dropped.
Use simple scientific vocabulary such as pull, force, fall and earth.Materials:
Ball
Feather
Pencil
Sheet of paper
Two identical sheets of paperShort video on astronauts floating in space.
Activity one
Show students the ball and ask what will happen if it is dropped.
Why will it not float?Explain: Gravity is a force that pulls everything towards the earth. It is why we stay on the ground and why things fall if we let them go.
Prediction game – Students work in pairs for the following games.
Shown objects they predict which objects will fall faster
Ball/pencil etc
They can also select their own objects and record predictions.
Drop the objects and record outcomes.Discuss outcomes.
Explain lighter things fall more slowly because of air resistance.Paper Experiments
Each pair of students given two sheets of paper
Drop one flat.
Crumple one into a ball.
Drop them both at the same time.
Discuss
Which landed first?
Did gravity pull on both?
Why was one slower?
Explain:
Gravity pulls on both but the flat paper has more air pushing against it.Draw a picture showing gravity and one sentence explaining how it works.
Fun activity to finish: “Gravity says” active game