Week 15- Creating New Subtances

 What question are we investigating?

For the fifteen week of Science Methods I, we would continue with the question: “How can we support elementary students in learning about matter and its interactions?”. We also would look again at the question “Where do the bubbles come from when we mix vinegar and baking soda?” We did this through being in small groups to create a lesson plan to show this phenomenon to elementary students. Then we would share and receive feedback with another small group. 

What did we do in lab to investigate this question?

The teacher explained by reviewing everyone over what happened when mixing vinegar and baking soda together. He would ask everyone in small groups to create models to explain what happens to elementary students. My small group would think about using a balloon with a small coke bottle to show this reaction to the elementary students. We believed that it would allow the students to get a clearer understanding of how it looks when they are mixed together and how the gas isn’t able to escape. Then we would talk with the small group over the experiment and receive their warm or cold feedback over it. They would say they liked how creative it was for the students and would be able to engage them easier compared to their experiment idea. 

What did we figure out?

Another important part would be in the lecture and talking more about particles. We would talk about the chemical reactions that produce new substances. We would learn as a whole group this through another simulation and the teacher showing how the numbers of atoms change the effect over creating something new. An example of a new substance can be H20 which is water and showing how the particles are created to make it. An important part to remember is that the total atoms are the same after the reaction of creating a new substance. It also would be critical to watch the video over making water. It would allow me to get a clearer understanding over how new substances can be created and give more than one visual example over it. 

What are new or remaining questions after the investigation? 

This lab taught me about the different ways to create experiments for elementary students and to get them curious over science. This would be done through the discussion part of class and being able to create lesson plans in small groups over the reaction of vinegar with baking soda. It would give me a clearer understanding over how particles are able to create new substances and give me a visual over it.