Acid-Base Adventures: Unraveling pH Mysteries!

8th Grade

Project
1 week

Acid-Base Adventures: Unraveling pH Mysteries!

Kelley Pulis

Purpose

This project aims to deepen students' understanding of acids and bases through hands-on experimentation and real-world application. By investigating the pH levels of common household substances, students will actively engage in scientific inquiry, enhancing their ability to classify and differentiate between acids and bases. The project fosters critical thinking and collaboration, encouraging students to apply their knowledge in practical contexts and communicate their findings effectively.

Learning goals

Students will understand the fundamental properties of acids and bases, including their taste, reactivity, and pH levels. They will develop skills in designing and conducting experiments to test and classify household substances as acidic or basic. Through creating digital infographics and video presentations, students will enhance their ability to communicate scientific findings clearly and effectively. Additionally, they will engage in critical thinking by predicting outcomes, analyzing data, and reflecting on peer feedback to refine their understanding and presentation skills.

Standards

NGSS - MS-PS1-2: Analyze and interpret data on the properties of substances before and after the substances interact to determine if a chemical reaction has occurred.
NGSS - MS-PS1-5: Develop and use a model to describe how the total number of atoms does not change in a chemical reaction and thus mass is conserved.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.8.4: Present claims and findings, emphasizing salient points in a focused, coherent manner with relevant evidence, sound valid reasoning, and well-chosen details.

Products

Students will create a digital pH scale infographic that visually represents the pH levels of various household substances they tested, categorizing them as acids or bases. Additionally, they will produce a video presentation demonstrating their experimental process and findings, articulating their understanding of acid-base properties. These products will showcase students' ability to conduct scientific investigations and effectively communicate their results.

Launch

Begin the project with an engaging 'Household Chemistry Scavenger Hunt' where students collaborate in teams to identify and list household items they suspect to be acids or bases. Encourage them to predict the pH levels of these items before conducting experiments. This activity will spark curiosity and set the stage for their upcoming investigations into the properties of acids and bases.

Exhibition

At the end of the project, students will host a "Household Chemistry Expo" where they present their digital pH scale infographics and video experiments to classmates, teachers, and family members. Each student will set up a display station featuring their findings, allowing attendees to ask questions and engage with the experiments. This exhibition will provide a platform for students to showcase their understanding of acids and bases and their ability to communicate scientific concepts effectively.

Week 1	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Household Chemistry Scavenger Hunt - Students work in teams to identify and list household items they suspect to be acids or bases and predict their pH levels before testing (45 min)	Introduction to Acids and Bases - Using models and charts, students learn the properties of acids and bases, including taste, reactivity, and proton donation/acceptance (20 min) Exploring the pH Scale - Visual presentation of the pH scale with examples of substances and their pH values to understand acidity and basicity (25 min)	pH Testing Lab - Students conduct experiments to test the pH levels of selected household substances, recording their observations in a lab notebook (45 min)	Creating Digital Infographics - Students design digital pH scale infographics, categorizing tested substances as acids or bases with images and descriptions (45 min)	Video Presentation Preparation - Students script and rehearse video presentations demonstrating their experiments and explaining findings (20 min) Peer Review Session - Students present their findings to peers, receive feedback, and reflect on their communication skills and scientific explanations (25 min)
Deliverables	1. Digital pH scale infographic categorizing household substances as acids or bases. 2. Video presentation demonstrating the experiment and explaining observations and conclusions about acids and bases.
Preparation	1. Gather materials for the scavenger hunt (list templates, household item examples). 2. Prepare visual aids for the core content presentation (diagrams, charts, pH scale examples). 3. Provide pH testing materials (pH strips or digital pH meters) for experiments. 4. Set up digital tools and resources for creating infographics (computers, infographic software). 5. Organize a schedule and format for the peer review session and teacher-student conferences.