8th Grade Science Classes - Chemistry Unit
by Becky Granneman
Our eighth grade Science students are completing a unit on Chemistry. They learned about elements, compounds, mixtures, atoms and the periodic table. They are now learning how to identify different chemical compounds based upon their reactions with each other. This is done as a chemical mining simulation.
The students are forming companies. They are being trained on how to mix chemical compounds, observing their reactions and recording their observations. These observations will be used to identify samples of unknowns. Proper identification will earn each company start up money, which will be spent to "buy" well samples gathered from 100 sites across the United States.
Each of the eight compounds has a current market value. At the end of the testing period, each company will select the 10 wells worth the most money. If they correctly identify the compound present, they "earn" money for their company. Points will be awarded based upon net worth of companies.
