Welcome to the class website for Wise Owl's Middle School Physical Science Class! Here you'll find the latest information on what we've covered, video links, and homework assignments.
This week we learned all about the Periodic Table. We watched an excellent video from Crash Course that discussed Dmitri Mendeleev and how he developed the periodic table. A link to the video is provided below:
Once we watched the introductory video, it was time for us as a class to organize candy periodically. This took a little time, but once we finished it was much easier to understand the genius in Mendeleev's approach.
Below are the two pages of notes for The Periodic Table.
The Periodic Table Notes page 1
The Periodic Table Notes page 2
The next activity involved us learning about the various groups/families on the periodic table and color coding tables to glue into our interactive notebooks.
Our next set of notes covers what we discussed in class, the properties associated with each of the groups on the Periodic Table. See notes below:
Metals, Nonmetals, and Metalloids Notes pg. 1
Metals, Nonmetals, Metalloids Notes page 2
Unfortunately, we ran out of time to play Periodic Table Battleship, but we will play this and explore elements further this coming week before we move on to writing chemical formulas and chemical reactions.
This week we added to our understanding of Atomic Theory. Last week, we began our discussions with a review of what a neutral atom is and how we can use a Bohr model to design various elements we find on the periodic table. We watched a short video on isotopes as well (see below) and discussed how we differentiate between various isotopes of an element. Using the Bohr model, we determined that isotopes vary based upon differences in the number of neutrons they have. Thus, different isotopes have different mass numbers. We distinguish between isotopes by mass number.
Students were given a worksheet that also served as their graphic organizer. They were able to work independently. They colored-coded the subatomic particles of various isotopes and practiced isotopic notation as well as determining the mass number and atomic number of the isotopes. Below is a copy of the worksheet.
Next, we reviewed a neutral atom using our Bohr model of carbon as an example and discussed defined ions--more specifically, anions and cations. We also discussed the significance of valence electrons--the outermost shell electrons that are gained or lost. Below are the notes for ions.
Students worked on a second worksheet that gave them practice determining the number of electrons, protons, and neutrons were in elements. I was given the opportunity to work with students individually to help them fill in gaps in their understanding and clarify the concepts taught.
The key for the worksheet is shown below. They were asked to glue the worksheet in their notebooks as a graphic organizer for Ions.
Next week, we will be taking a closer look at the periodic table.
This week we started Unit 3 Atomic Theory by covering the history of how our current understanding of the atom developed. At the end of last week's blog, a Crash Course video quickly covers how the understanding of the composition of atoms went from the "atomos" idea all the way to our current electron cloud model. The History of Atomic Theory video is shown below for those who didn't get a chance to watch it.
We cut out an accordion foldable and students were given directions on how to make a timeline to be added to their interactive notebooks. The information they need to make the timeline is linked below along with the graphic organizer/classroom activity we worked on in class, but students are to finish at home. Atomic Theory Timeline and Bohr Model Worksheet
Students were given some notes to take during class because those notes would help them to construct Bohr models. The full set of notes are shown below:
We used poster board and Skittles to practice constructing various elements after determining the number of electrons, protons, and neutrons in a given element. Too bad I forgot to take pictures! Anyhoo, this exercise seemed to really help the kids to solidify their understanding of how atomic number relates to proton and electron number in a neutral atom as well how mass number relates to calculating neutron number.
Since I want to teach this in chunks, I want to leave students free to complete the worksheet we did in class and become comfortable with calculating protons, neutrons, and electrons in a neutral atom. Next week, we will continue this lesson and learn how to calculate the number of protons, electrons, and neutrons for an ion and discuss isotopes. From there we will move on to taking a closer look at the periodic table.
This week we opened our lesson on States of Matter with root beer floats! What a tasty way to demonstrate the three phases of matter: solid, liquid, and gas! While students dug into their root beer floats, they watched two videos covering an introduction to the three states of matter and the fourth state of matter-the plasma state. Those two videos are linked below:
Next, it was time to cut out our graphic organizers for states of matter and changes in the states of matter linked below:
Here are pictures of how the graphic organizers should look in our interactive notebook:
States of Matter Graphic Organizer
Changes in States of Matter Graphic Organizer
Once we glued in our graphic organizers, we discussed the arrangement and behavior of particles in the three states of matter, the relationship between temperature and energy of the particles, and the endothermic and exothermic energy changes that occur as the states of matter change. Below are pictures of the notes for states of matter along with the answer that goes above the graphic organizer for states of matter.
Answer that goes above states of matter graphic org.
Notes on States of Matter
Additionally, below is the answer for Changes in States of Matter and the notes for Changes in States of Matter.
Answer for Changes in States of Matter Graphic Organizer
Notes for Changes in States of Matter
Finally, we ended class with a review of Unit 1 and Unit 2. Students were grouped into teams of 2 and given a mini-dry erase board and Expo marker. The questions were on the powerpoint and they had 30 seconds or so write the correct answer on their boards and then hold their answer up once the time was expired. Two teams tied for first place. I hope this game emphasized to the students the need to read over and study their notes at home, not just write them down to say they are completed. The game questions and answers are linked below for them to review further with their notes.
In this upcoming week we will be starting Unit 3 Atoms and the Periodic Table. I strongly encourage students to watch this Crash Course Video covering the History of Atomic Theory before they come to class so that they will be prepared for a review discussion and graphic organizer.
