Exploring Chemical Change

Lesson Overview

Unit: Chemical Reactions Unleashed
Lesson: 1 of 7
Year Level: Year 9
Curriculum Area: Science – Material World
Achievement Objectives:

• Understand that chemical reactions involve reactants changing into products.
• Observe and describe evidence of chemical change (e.g., colour change, gas formation, temperature change).
• Recognise the Law of Conservation of Mass in simple reactions.

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Preparation & Differentiation for Dyslexic Students

• Visual Aids: Use large, clear font (Arial or Verdana) and coloured backgrounds (light blue or cream) for reading materials.
• Hands-on Learning: More time for practical work and observation rather than extensive reading or writing.
• Step-by-Step Instructions: Break down tasks into clear, simple steps and repeat instructions verbally.
• Collaborative Learning: Pair dyslexic students with peers who can assist with note-taking.
• Minimal Writing: Use drawing, oral discussions, and sentence starters instead of heavy writing requirements.

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Lesson Structure (60 Minutes)

1. Engagement – "What’s Changing?" (10 minutes)

Activity: Fast Fire Brainstorm

• Write on the board:
  • What happens when you light a candle?
  • Why does an apple go brown when cut?
  • What happens when you cook an egg?
• Ask students to discuss in pairs and write ideas on whiteboards or sticky notes.
• Gather responses and group them into "Physical Changes" and "Chemical Changes."
• Dyslexic-Friendly Tip: Use icons (🔥 = heat reaction, 💨 = gas released) instead of text-heavy descriptions.

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2. Explanation – Defining Chemical Reactions (15 minutes)

Key Teaching Points (Presented Visually & Verbally)

• A chemical reaction happens when substances change into something new.
• Reactants → change into → Products.
• Evidence of a Chemical Reaction:
  • Colour change 🟠🟡
  • Bubbles (Gas forming) 💨
  • Heat or temperature change ♨️
  • Precipitate (solid forms in a liquid) 🧪
• Introduce the Law of Conservation of Mass (mass stays the same before and after reaction).

Short Practical Demo: Vinegar & Baking Soda Reaction 🧪

• Pour baking soda into a beaker and add vinegar.
• Ask students: What do they see? What did it form? Why is this a chemical change?
• Write words vs. Draw it – let dyslexic students use simple symbols to record observations (bubbles = gas, thermometer icon for temperature change).

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3. Exploration – Hands-on Reaction Stations (20 minutes)

Students Rotate Through 3 Simple Reaction Stations:

(Table groups of 5, every 5 minutes a group shifts)

1. Steel Wool & Vinegar (Rusting) – Observe colour change over time.
2. Dissolving Sugar vs. Burning Sugar – Compare a physical change (mixing into water) vs. a chemical reaction (caramelising).
3. Lemon Juice & Baking Soda – Notice bubbling = gas production.

✏️ Worksheet (Visual Options Available):

• Students describe reactions using provided answer starters and diagrams instead of full sentences.
• For Dyslexic Learners: Allow voice-recorded observations or simple drawing entries instead of writing.

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4. Reflection – Summarising Findings (10 minutes)

Exit Activity: "What Stuck With You?"

• Students complete one of the options:
  1. Draw a picture of one reaction they observed.
  2. Finish this sentence: "A chemical reaction is when..."
  3. Explain out loud what surprised them in today’s lesson.

Homework/Extension:

• Ask students to look for a chemical reaction at home and describe it tomorrow.

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Assessment & Teacher Reflection Notes:

• Did students correctly observe chemical reactions?
• Were dyslexic students able to engage with minimal writing demands?
• Which concepts needed more clarification for next lesson?

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Next Lesson Preview: "Reactions in the Real World"

• Applying today’s learning to explosions, digestion, and rusting.
• Understanding reaction rates and why some reactions are fast or slow.

✨ TEACHER WOW FACTOR: This lesson gets students thinking before they learn definitions and minimises reading/writing, making it accessible for all learners in a Kiwi classroom.