30-45 min.

Middle School
Chemistry
Overview of lesson:
This lesson is intended for middle school students and will focus on chemistry. It will be
conducted while the students are on a college visit and they will be accompanied by their
college mentors during their visit. Students will be given an overview of different features of
molecules regarding their composition. Students will then participate in a matching activity
where they will bond up with other classmates to create different molecules like carbon dioxide,
water, and carbon monoxide. The intended time for this lesson is about 30-45 minutes.

Description of learners, environment, goals, and content:

Learners
The learners are 6th through 8th grade.
The students will be primarily at-risk Students
The students will be tired/unenthused after a day of school
The students hold negative disposition towards school and education
The students will be excited to work with a College student.
Learning Environment
Interactive whiteboard
room is half tables (one for each student and mentor)
other half of the room is open space (enough for all of the kids to move around freely in)
Intended learning goals.
This lesson is intended to present the fundamental aspects of Chemistry in varied ways.
Specifically explain atom construction and chemical bonding in a way experiential
learners can better understand
Repave the foundation for Chemistry to young learners to prepare them if they are going
into chemistry or shore up information they have already covered.
Lesson Content
Explanation of Atom structure
Explanation of Molecular bonds
Molecular bond activity and game

Learning Objectives:
1. A general understanding of the construction and parts of the atom
a. The ability to locate Protons, Neutrons, and Electrons on a diagram.
b. The ability to describe the electrical charge of each piece and describe, and their
different responsibilities and actions are
2. Students can identify, describe, and differentiate between the different chemical bond
a. Ionic, Covalent, and Metallic
b. Able to describe what happens to the electrons in each bond
c. general understanding of the differences between each bond

3. When moving on to new subjects in chemistry the students will need little or no reminder
of the subjects covered.

Standards:
The Following are the selected Indiana 8th Grade Standards addressed in this lesson
8.1.1 Explain that all matter is composed of particular arrangements of atoms and that there are
approximately one hundred types of atoms (i.e., elements).
8.1.3 Explain how the arrangement of atoms and molecules determines chemical properties of
substances.
8.1.4 Describe the structure of atoms and relate the arrangement of electrons to how atoms
interact with other atoms.
8.1.5 Explain that atoms join together to form molecules and compounds and illustrate with
diagrams the relationship between atoms and compounds and between atoms and molecules.

Required Materials;
Interactive white board
Classroom with open space
Attachment of definitions (for the instructor to look over)

Procedures:
1. Start by teaching the students a little basic chemistry. Tell them what a proton, neutron,
atom, and molecule is.
2. Define ionic bonds (when an atom donates to another atom to bond) and covalent bonds
(when atoms share to bond).
3. Break students up into groups of 3, making sure the students buddies stay with them. This
means that each group should have a total of six people in it.
4. Assign each student to be either a proton or a neutron or an electron.
5. Assign each buddy to be an atom (Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen, etc).
6. Tell the students to run around their buddies because they are orbiting them.
7. Draw a molecule on the whiteboard for the students to make. While drawing, make sure to
point out if it should be an ionic or covalent bond.
8. Call out the molecule for the students to form, such as water (HOH), carbon monoxide
(CO), carbon dioxide (CO2). Make sure you have all of the atom needed before calling it out to
the students.
9. Tell the students to try and match the molecule that is displayed on the projector.
10. Have the students form bonds with the atom required to make the elements by sharing or
donating a proton or neutron. If they share, have the two students lock arms. If they donate,
have one student join the other atoms group.
11. If an element is left over, explain that sometimes not all of the elements may bond. Some
will always be left over.
12. Continue to do this for at least five more molecules, having the students reset to their initial
atom after each molecule is formed.

Definitions:
Atom: The smallest unit of an element containing protons and neutrons.
Proton: A positively charged particle that all atoms contain.
Neutron: A neutrally charged particle that all atoms contain.
Molecule: Smallest unit of an element. Formed when two or more atoms combine.
Ionic bond: Bond when two atoms combine to form a molecule by donating an electron.
Covalent bonds: Bond when two atoms combine by sharing an electron with the other atom.

Assessment:
Have all of the students sit down except for one group. This group should have six people in it
(3 students and 3 buddies). Once again, assign each buddy an atom. Then, tell the students a
molecule to make, such as water (HOH). Have them either share or donate to make the correct
molecule. Make sure they are saying exactly what they are doing while they are bonding.
5 points: The students correctly make a bond and without the help of the buddies or looking at
the projector. They must also be able to say what type of bond they are making (ionic or
covalent).
3 points: The students correctly make a bond without the help of the projector and minimal help
from the buddies. They cannot name the type of bond they created.
1 point: The students correctly make a bond, but with help from both the buddy and the
projector and they cannot name the bond.

Description of inspiration of lesson:

The inspiration behind this lesson plan was that chemistry is an additive subject, so each part
builds upon the previous material. So, a lack of understanding of the basics could be
problematic to students which is why this lesson focuses on the very basic building blocks of
molecules. This lesson is intended to reach out to all types of learners, especially those who
learn best through hands on activities. There is an activity where students will bond with one
another to create molecules. This lesson plan also will use a presentation as a teaching method.
The instructor will explain the definitions of the very basic building blocks of molecules as well
as draw diagrams on the interactive whiteboard. For the most part this lesson is very original,
the only content that was taken from an internet search are the terms section.

References:
(2014). Dictonary.com. Ask.com, Retrieved November 9, 2014

Academic Journals:
Renfrow, D. A. (2011). The Three Faces of Technology Education. Journal of sTEm Teacher
Education, 48(3), 7-16.
This article discussed how teachers should teach technology. It put an emphasis on the value
of students learning technology. It talks about three faces of students and how to teach to
each type. This article helped us learn to teach to different types of students. It showed us to
remember to emphasize all three and make sure all are getting equal representation during our
lesson.

Reisel, J. R., & Jablonski, M. R., & Munson, E., & Hosseini, H. (2014). Peer-led team learning
in mathematics courses for freshmen engineering and computer science students. Journal of
STEM Education: Innovations & Research, 15(2), 7-15.
This article discussed research done in hands on peer-led learning. Throughout three years,
students took part in hands on learning. After three years, they found that students had learned
math better and were doing better in their classes. This article helped us to know that we need
to take a hands on approach. Students learn better from hands on and it makes it more fun.