Describe materials by physical and chemical properties, and identify…
Describe materials by physical and chemical properties, and identify conditions under which properties change and critically evaluate whether a new substance has been produced.
The Alberta Science Grades 7–8–9 Program of Studies outcome (Unit B: Matter and Chemical Change, Outcome 1) for Grade 9 says: “Describe materials by physical and chemical properties, and identify conditions under which properties change and critically evaluate whether a new substance has been produced.” This Fieldbook unit teaches it hands-on, with everyday materials and a printable teacher guide and student sheet for every lesson. Official wording: Alberta Science Grades 7–8–9 Program of Studies.
Kitchen Chemistry Grades 7–8
Fizzing, curdling and colour changes with things from the grocery store. Students gather evidence of new substances, weigh a reaction in a sealed bottle, and turn red cabbage into an acid detector.
- Is it a new substance? 50–60 min
Teams run six quick kitchen changes, from dissolving sugar to curdling milk, and record properties before and after. They sort each change as physical or chemical using evidence, and find out why a single clue like bubbles or a colour change isn't proof on its own.
- Where does the mass go? 50–60 min
Teams weigh baking soda and vinegar reacting in an open cup, then in a capped pop bottle. The open cup gets lighter and the capped bottle doesn't, until they open it. Students use atoms to explain why mass is never lost in a reaction, only let out.
- Can red cabbage tell acid from base? 50–60 min
Students add purple cabbage juice to safe household liquids and watch it turn pink, purple, blue or green. They build a colour scale, sort the liquids into acids and bases, identify two mystery liquids, and watch an acid and a base cancel each other out.
Printable practice for this outcome
- Kitchen Chemistry workbook included with the unit
3 practice pages, 3 readings, 2 English-support pages, 1 word wall, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.
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Compared with NGSS: MS-PS1-2.
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