Learning Goals
Students will be able to explain oxygen gas production, matter change, catalyst function, and thermal energy release in the elephant toothpaste reaction using particle-level models and evidence.
Students will be able to investigate a self-generated question about controlling the elephant toothpaste reaction by synthesizing several credible sources and generating focused follow-up questions.
Students will be able to conduct teacher-approved elephant toothpaste trials by precisely following a multistep safety procedure, measuring quantities and temperature, and recording gas or foam production data.
Students will be able to design, test, evaluate, and revise a device that safely contains foam or controls thermal energy transfer using performance data, constraints, and peer critique.
Products
Elephant Toothpaste Engineering Research and Analysis Slideshow
Each student creates a slideshow presenting a research question, notes from several credible sources, a particle-level reaction model, an interpreted safety procedure, analysis of team test data, and an independently justified device revision. The slideshow concludes with reflection on feedback, self-management, limitations, and new questions.
Tested Foam-Containment or Heat-Control Device and Science Showcase Presentation
Teams construct, safely test under teacher supervision, and revise a device that contains foam or controls thermal energy transfer, documenting measured results and design trade-offs. They present the device and a live teacher-managed or recorded reaction demonstration explaining the chemistry, research basis, procedure, data, critique, and revisions to an available classroom audience.
No rubric has been generated yet.