Session Seven

Arrival Activity – Just for fun! Can you match the substance to its scientific name? Substance Name Sand dihydrogen monoxide Chalk sodium bicarbonate Sugar acetic acid Water sodium chloride Vinegar acetylsalicyclic acid Baking Soda sucrose Salt silicon dioxide Aspirin calcium carbonate

Sand Chalk Sugar Water Vinegar Baking Soda Salt Aspirin silicon dioxide Sand calcium carbonate Chalk sucrose Sugar dihydrogen monoxide Water acetic acid Vinegar sodium bicarbonate Baking Soda sodium chloride Salt acetylsalicylic acid Aspirin

Agenda Constructivist Cooking and Chemistry Making Mixtures Group Activity Make mixtures Planning time Group presentations Hands-on time to explore mixtures Clean up Assignments for Next Session

Homework Sharing What ideas did the reading, “Cooking Transformations” give you about including cooking as part of the science curriculum? Explain how constructivist principles apply to cooking with young children.

Constructivist Chemistry Chemistry in early childhood is about exploring the properties of different substances and experimenting to see how they change. Children discover that combining substances can produce a new substance with different properties. These changes are referred to as “transformations.”

Constructivist Chemistry The focus is on: making observations comparing materials using descriptive vocabulary generating hypotheses cause and effect predicting drawing conclusions sharing results with others This is early chemistry!

Constructivist Chemistry What is the value of providing experiences in which children can combine ingredients without following an exact recipe?

Combining ingredients without following an exact recipe Creates an environment for self-direction. Making their own choices and decisions is empowering. Places children in the role of experimenter and scientist. Encourages children to develop their own questions, test out their reasoning, encounter contradictions, and revise their ideas to construct knowledge. Children will get different results from their peers creating rich discussions about what might account for the differences.

Making Mixtures Group Project Each group makes their mixture. Groups plan brief presentations. Refer to the assignment sheet for questions to be addressed. Groups present. Hands-on time to explore mixtures. Clean up.

Group Presentations Bring mixture and ingredients to the front of the class with you. Address all questions on assignment sheet. Everyone needs to participate equally. Keep presentation to under 10 minutes. Note: Students can take notes on their handouts during presentations to record the ideas shared. These notes will be helpful in the future when using these activities with children.

Making Mixtures Presentations Respond to the following questions: Which mixture did your group make? Show it to the class. What were the ingredients? Describe the steps/process for making your mixture. What did you like/not like about this mixture? How would you organize and facilitate this activity with children to encourage their curiosity and scientific thinking? What advice do you have about how to set up the materials to make them most appropriate (safe, easy to share, etc.) for young children? What other tips, suggestions, and ideas for variations do you have for doing this activity with children (think about different ages and settings)?

Think about the learning What did you learn from the Making Mixtures activities? How did this experience affect your ideas about science and young children? What questions did this activity raise for you?

Homework for Next Session: Description of Midterm Project

What to bring next session: Baking Soda or Vinegar