Susan Grandick

Teaching Through Trade Books: Kitchen Chemistry

Fri, Nov 11, 2011 4:27 PM
Trade books for physical and chemical changes.

I recommend this article to anyone needing books to enhance learning from a solid, liquids, and gases unit. The books discussed are Pancakes for Breakfast and Kitchen Chemistry II. In the Pancakes for Breakfast book, Students learn what a mixture is and the chemical changes that must occur when making pancakes. Students also will learn about acids and bases in the Kitchen chemistry book. There is a follow actvity after having read these books which includes determining a base from an acid. Students make their own indicator fluid fom purple cabbage and test the different liquids (choose the safe ones) to see whch are base and which are acid. I like this activity because the students will see how these concepts are applied in real-like situations.

Science Sampler: Enhancing student understanding of physical and chemical changes

Fri, Nov 11, 2011 4:18 PM
chemical changes

The article explains more deeply how a change would be chemical. It provides many ways you can show a chemical change. I use some of these examples, such as an alka seltzer in water and milk and vinegar, to show what happens in a chemical reaction. Some of the examples ae too dangerous for my third grade classroom (for instance, the one that use fire). HOwever, I like having the list of ideas and products that produce chemical changes so the students and I can discuss them and "see" some of them. I would recommend reading this article, if only to get the list of chemical reactions that could be discussed. This article helps me with my solids and liquids kit from STC.

Fun with Phase Changes

Fri, Nov 11, 2011 4:10 PM
Fun With Phase Changes

This article provides information for students in your classroom to role play the activity of gas, liquid, and solid molecules. When students are able to move their bodies to "see" a concept, I believe the concept is better learned. The kit I use that this activity would be helpful with is the STC kit, Solids and Liquids. The activity would reinforce the hands-on activities that the students are already engaging in. Students very much enjoy this activity in my classroom and have mastery when it comes to the movement of molecules in solids, liquids, and gases.