Chemical Reaction Basics

Year Level

Year 4

Duration

60 minutes

Class Size

30 students

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Australian Curriculum Alignment

• Science Understanding (ACSSU074)
  Explore and describe chemical reactions, including identifying everyday examples of chemical changes and distinguishing them from physical changes.

• Science Inquiry Skills (ACSIS064, ACSIS065)
  Pose questions about chemical reactions, make predictions, participate in hands-on activities, and communicate observations clearly.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Define what a chemical reaction is in simple terms appropriate to Year 4.
2. Identify examples of chemical reactions in everyday life.
3. Differentiate between chemical reactions and physical changes.
4. Observe and describe simple chemical reactions through demonstrations.
5. Use scientific language related to chemical reactions (e.g., reactants, products, change, gas, temperature).

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Materials Needed

• Whiteboard and markers
• PowerPoint or visual aids depicting chemical and physical changes
• Simple demonstration materials:
  • Vinegar (acetic acid)
  • Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
  • Candle and matches (teacher use only)
  • Clear plastic cups
  • Water
  • Lemon juice
  • Small Food colouring bottles
• Chart paper for group brainstorming
• Worksheet for students to classify changes (chemical or physical)
• Safety goggles for demonstration purpose
• Timer/Stopwatch

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Lesson Outline

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

• Hook: Pose an engaging question for discussion:
  "Have you ever noticed what happens when baking soda meets vinegar? Or what happens when a candle burns?"
• Class discussion: Collect students’ ideas about changes they observe in the world around them (rusting, cooking, melting ice).
• Introduce the term "Chemical Reaction": Explain simply that it means substances change to make something new.
• Show a clear image or draw a concept map with two columns: "Physical Changes" and "Chemical Changes" to set up thinking for the lesson.

2. Teacher Demonstration & Explanation (15 minutes)

• Demonstration 1: Mixing baking soda and vinegar in a clear cup.
  • Ask students to observe and describe what they see (bubbles, fizzing gas).
  • Explain this is a chemical reaction — new substances are made, and gas is released.
• Demonstration 2: Light a candle briefly (teacher only). Discuss what happens as wax burns — a chemical change creating light, heat, and gas.
• Visuals: Show images/examples of physical changes (melting ice, tearing paper) vs chemical changes (burning paper, cooking food).
• Introduce simple scientific vocabulary: reactants (starting materials) and products (what is made).

3. Group Activity (20 minutes)

• Task: In groups of 5, students receive picture cards of different changes (e.g., water boiling, rusty bike, paper burning, ice melting, apple browning, salt dissolving in water).
• Students discuss and classify each as a physical or chemical change on a sorting mat.
• Teacher circulates to facilitate discussion, ensuring understanding.
• Groups share a couple of examples with the class, explaining their reasoning.

4. Individual Reflection and Worksheet (10 minutes)

• Hand out a simple worksheet with short descriptions and images of changes.
• Students complete by ticking whether the change is chemical or physical, and write one sentence explaining their choice.
• Encourage use of vocabulary introduced earlier.

5. Conclusion and Recap (5 minutes)

• Recap key points using the term "chemical reaction" and how it differs from physical change.
• Ask students to name one chemical reaction they learned about today.
• Preview next lesson: deeper exploration of chemical reactions and hands-on activities with safe experiments.

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Safety Considerations

• Teacher to handle matches and candle lighting.
• Ensure vinegar and baking soda are used with care and do not contact eyes.
• Safety goggles recommended for teacher demonstrations.
• Reinforce washing hands after activities.

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Assessment and Feedback

• Informal assessment: Observing group discussions and class sharing to check understanding of chemical vs physical changes.
• Worksheet completion as a formative assessment tool to verify individual understanding.
• Use questioning throughout lesson to probe comprehension.
• Provide verbal feedback during group activities to encourage scientific thinking.

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Cross-Curriculum Connections

• English: Use of scientific vocabulary, explaining ideas clearly.
• Health & Safety: Safe handling of materials.
• Digital Technologies: (Optional for teachers) Use digital visuals or videos for demonstrations.

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Extensions and Differentiation

• For advanced learners: Challenge students to find examples of chemical reactions at home and bring findings to share.
• For students needing support: Provide additional one-on-one support during group tasks and sentence writing.
• Use visual prompts and simplified explanations for learners with diverse needs.

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This lesson plan ensures students engage with foundational ideas about chemical reactions through interactive, age-appropriate methods aligned with the Australian Curriculum v9 (Science Understanding ACSSU074 and Science Inquiry ACSIS064/065). Starting with everyday phenomena helps contextualise scientific concepts, setting the stage for deeper inquiry in subsequent lessons in the "Chemical Reactions Unleashed" unit.

Teachers are encouraged to facilitate curiosity, discussion, and hands-on observing, helping students develop solid foundations in chemical science concepts with safety and inclusivity at the forefront.

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If you need specific references to the curriculum codes or elaborations, I can provide them as well.