Chemical Reactions

Physical and Chemical Changes

BRIEF SUMMARY OF LESSON:
This lesson plan covers the differences between chemical and physical changes that will aide
students in identifying chemical reactions.

Lesson Plan Information

Uploaded by Oscar Cortez Jr., Longfellow MS

Content Area & Grade Level: Science 6th Grade
TEK Used for Lesson:
6.5 The student knows the differences between elements and
compounds. The student is expected to:
D. Identify the formation of a new substance by using the evidence of
a possible chemical change such as production of a gas, change in
temperature, production of a precipitate, or color change.
Common Core Standard Used for this Lesson: No Common Core
Standard aligned to the TEKS
Estimated Duration of Lesson: 45 minutes
Lesson Objective: The student should be able to differentiate between
the properties of a physical change versus a chemical change.

Chemical Reactions
Physical and Chemical Changes
Step-by-step lesson activities
Engage (5 minutes):
Students will complete Do Now, where they are given real life reactions and are asked to classify them
as being either physical or chemical changes (shown below).

Explore (10 minutes):

Review important lab safety instructions with your students before beginning lab. You will provide pairs of
students with the following materials:
Triple beam balance
Ice in 50-mL beaker
1 tablespoon of baking soda
10-mL of vinegar in 50-mL beaker
Students will examine an example of a transformation that occurs during a chemical change and how that
transformation cannot be reversed. Students will also witness a physical change that is reversible.

Chemical Reactions
Physical and Chemical Changes

Explain (15 minutes):

Display the following video for students to get an idea as to what the different properties of a chemical
versus a physical change are.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW9of4JYHY0
Create a table on a white board or an available board and solicit responses from students to give
properties of a physical change and of a chemical change. You should have students copy the following
information onto their notes.

Elaborate (10 minutes):

Students will complete the postlab questions using the information theyve gathered from the YouTube
video and the notes completed as a class.
Evaluate (5 minutes):

Chemical Reactions
Physical and Chemical Changes
Students will independently complete an exit ticket without the aide of their notes.

MATERIALS & RESOURCES

[List of Materials]

Baking soda
Vinegar
Triple beam balances (1 per every pair of students)
50-mL beakers (2 per every pair of students)
Ice

[Resources]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW9of4JYHY0
All handouts mentioned in this lesson plan are included with this resource under the name Chemical

Chemical Reactions
Physical and Chemical Changes
Changes Handouts.doc

Lesson Assessment
[Assessment]
See evaluate section of the 5E lesson plan for exit ticket. 3

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR IMPLEMENTATION

Teacher should prepare beakers filled with ice prior to class. Teacher should also measure out the
vinegar and baking soda for the students to minimize time used for prep. Time needs to be allotted for
clean up. There is a possibility of this lesson plan extending into a second day. Teacher should use
his/her best judgment in implementing this lesson plan.