Lesson Plan: Classify Matter as Elements, Compounds, or Mixtures 8th Grade Science Stage 1: Central Focus Standard: 8.P.1.

1 Classify matter as elements, compounds, or mixtures based on how the atoms are packed together in arrangements. Objective: Students will be able to distinguish between elements, compounds, and mixtures and give examples of each. Materials Needed: salt, water, aluminum foil, computer, internet, projector, classification of matter handout Instructional Time: 1 hour and 30 mins Prior Knowledge: Be familiar with the periodic table and how to identify and locate elements on it. Know and be able to differentiate between the four phases of matter. Know that atoms are that smallest particles of a substance that combine to produce the objects of everyday life.

Science Content: New vocabulary: Pure substance, elements, compounds, mixtures, homogeneous, heterogeneous Central Focus: In this lesson, the science concepts students will be learning is the difference between elements, compounds, and mixtures. This learning segment is inquiry-based because it will engage students in 1) answering the question How do we classify matter?, 2) making observations and collecting and analyzing data about different types of matter (element, compound, mixture), 3) and arguing from evidence. This activity will be connected to real-world phenomena by having students extend their knowledge to reason what happens in order to separate different substances from a mixture. Also, students will have to classify objects from their homes as elements, compounds, or mixtures. This activity is interdisciplinary because it addresses Common Core standard CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.8.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 8 topics, texts, and issues, building on others ideas and expressing their own clearly. Common Student Misconceptions: If two substances share one characteristic property, they are the same substance (AAAS Project 2061, n.d.). The melting point of a substance is dependent on the amount of substance. For example, the melting point of a ball of wax will change if a piece of wax is removed from the ball (AAAS Project 2061, n.d.). Melting point is not a characteristic property of a pure substance.

Lesson Plan: Classify Matter as Elements, Compounds, or Mixtures 8th Grade Science Volume is a characteristic property of a substance (DeBoer et al., 2009). Color is not a characteristic property of a pure substance (AAAS Project 2061, n.d.). Boiling point is not a characteristic property of a pure substance. Density is not a characteristic property of a pure substance. If most of the listed characteristic properties are the same, the substances are the same (AAAS Project 2061, n.d.). Temperature is a characteristic property of the substance (Thomaz et al., 1995). Mass/weight is a characteristic property of a substance (DeBoer et al., 2009). Freezing point is not a characteristic property of a pure substance. Flammability is not a characteristic property of a pure substance. Shape is a characteristic property of a substance (AAAS Project 2061, n.d.).

Length is a characteristic property of a substance (AAAS Project 2061, n.d.). Essential Question: How do we classify matter? Stage 2: Assessment Evidence Performance Tasks: By the end of the lesson: Students will be able to distinguish between elements, compounds, and mixtures and give examples of each. Classify mixtures as heterogeneous or homogenous and give examples of each. Students will be able to describe different ways to separate substances in a mixture. Other Evidence: Formal: Independent practice, homework Informal: Eliciting current conceptions, discussion with whole class and small groups Stage 3: Learning Plan Ask students questions to develop discussion: How would you classify the air you breathe? Does it consist of one thing or a mixture of different substances? Is salad dressing a mixture or a pure substance? What is salad dressing made of that helps you determine this? Tell students that today we will be learning how we classify matter by either elements, compounds, or mixtures. Tell them that by the end of the lesson they will be able to distinguish if a substance is an

Engage

Elicit current conceptions

Lesson Plan: Classify Matter as Elements, Compounds, or Mixtures 8th Grade Science element, compound, or a mixture. And if it is a mixture, what type of mixture.

Explore

Have students follow along with you in a hands on experiment: Here I have a glass of water with salt in it. You can see the salt accumulated at the bottom of the beaker. What would happen if I mix the two in the beaker? Have students think about the question and then share their ideas with their neighbors. Ask students what they believe will happen. After students discuss their hypothesis, mix the salt and water together. Discuss what is happening with the students. It became on substance. Ask, Is there a way I can separate the salt from the water? Students raise their hands, state their answers, and explain why they think it can/cannot be. Answers will vary. If a student calls out, redirect the class attention to the class expectations of raising your hand to respond to a question. If a student responds to the questions with, "yes," but is not sure of how or why, probe him or her into thinking of ways you may be able to remove the water. Do not accept simple yes or no responses. Have students explicitly explain their reasoning. Possible student answers: "Dump the water out." But if I dump the water out, the salt will also go down the drain. "Put the water through a strainer." The salt has already dissolved; the strainer would not be able to catch the grains. Have students keep giving suggestions, and eventually suggest that if we boil the water, it will change from a liquid to gas form, called evaporation, and will leave the salt in the beaker. Okay, we saw how the water evaporated and left

Observation and Discussion

Lesson Plan: Classify Matter as Elements, Compounds, or Mixtures 8th Grade Science behind the salt. Now let's say I have a beaker full of water. We know that the formula for water is H2O. Can I break water down into hydrogen and oxygen? Have students think-pair-share, sharing answers with the class. The answer would be no, not through physical means (like boiling). The reason is water is actually a compound. Compounds cannot be separated using physical means, but can be separated by chemical means. We will discuss this further in detail today. Some of you may be wondering why we could separate the salt from the water. That is because that was an example of a mixture and can be separated by physical means. Finally, let's take a look at this piece of aluminum foil. The teacher can just hold up a piece of foil, or pass some samples around and have students analyze it and try to determine if anything else makes up the foil. This is made up of aluminum, which is found on the periodic table. What do we know about the periodic table? What does it consist of? Students should be familiar with the periodic table of elements, or should be able to identify that it is an element. If not, be sure to review this prior to the lesson. It is made up of elements. Can elements be broken down? Students responses will vary. Explain: What is aluminum made of? We know that the symbol is Al, does this include anything else? No, an element is the smallest building block of matter. They are pure substances; they are all made up of the same thing. Remember, water and salt

Lesson Plan: Classify Matter as Elements, Compounds, or Mixtures 8th Grade Science consists of both water and the salt, therefore, it has two different items, which is why it is a mixture. Today's activities will help clarify the differences between mixtures, compounds and elements.

Explain

The instructor will facilitate note-taking and discussion using a PowerPoint presentation. Slide 2: Ask students what the difference is between a mixture and a pure substance. Student answers may vary, but they should eventually arrive at the conclusion that a mixture is "different things mixed together" while pure substances are "just one thing," or something similar. The instructor will then ask what the prefixes "hetero" and "homo" mean, and students should know hetero- means different while homo- means the same. The instructor can then question students about the difference between a homogeneous mixture and heterogeneous mixture is, asking for examples of each. Finally, the instructor will ask what elements are and where a list of elements can be found. They should answer that elements are the "building blocks of substances" or the "smallest pieces of elements," and that the periodic table is a list of the elements. The instructor can ask what a compound is, but it is unlikely students will have any prior knowledge. Slide 3: Explain that everything is matter, even things we are not able to see, such as air. Slide 4: Explain the difference between mixtures and pure substances. Slide 5: Explain the difference between compounds and elements, using clay to represent particles and describe how even though a compound has different elements bonded together, every "piece" of matter (meaning every molecule/formula unit) is the same. Slide 6: Introduce the concept of the indivisibility of the atom and how each atom of a particular element looks the same. For instance, a silver atom found in the ground in South America is the same as a silver

PowerPoint and Instruction

Lesson Plan: Classify Matter as Elements, Compounds, or Mixtures 8th Grade Science atom in a necklace belonging to someone in the classroom. Slide 7: Reinforce the concept of compounds as pure substances, even though they are composed of different elements. Slide 8: Explain heterogeneous and homogeneous mixtures and ask for examples of each. Slide 9: Reinforce the concept of mixtures as substances where "not every molecule is the same," i.e. salt water. Slide 10: Explain how mixtures can be composed of any combination of states of matter and ask for additional examples of each. Slide 11-12 of the PowerPoint presentation will be used as the Guided Practice portion.

Elaborate

Students will individually complete a handout, Classification of Matter. When students are finished, teacher will go over the appropriate answers with class members. Students will be left with a homework assignment where they will have to make a list of 10 household items and classify them as compounds, elements, heterogeneous mixtures, or homogeneous mixtures.

Worksheet and HW