Are you looking for a balancing chemical equations how to for your classroom? Do your students completely freak out when there is any math involved in their science content? Mine sure do! I try not to scare them and tell them that it’s not going away and to just wait until high school! Just kidding! I do tell them, because I think it’s important.
However, I let them know that it doesn’t get harder if they start working on it now. It all builds on each other, so it’s just taking one step at a time.
Balancing chemical equations is one of those topics in science that students find challenging, but it can be fun! It’s like a game, really! You are playing trail and error until both sides match. It’s an awesome feeling when you get both sides to be the same!
In this blog post, I want to share a WOW Factor way to introduce this topic as well as to share a lesson that will guide students through this process while reducing cognitive load.
Balancing Chemical Equations Introduction
One principle that is crucial to go over simultaneously with balancing chemical equations is The Law of Conservation of Mass. This law states that matter is neither created nor destroyed. If a chemical change takes place, the mass of the products will be equal to the reactants.
If you have not taught this concept yet, don’t mention it! Remember, I’m a huge fan of inquiry-based learning and leading students into the content instead of just outright telling them.
You have to get students wondering about the content before telling them. So, to introduce the law of conservation of mass and balancing chemical equations, give them a bit of introduction. Here are two ideas!
Demonstration Examples and Discuss
This is your opportunity to show students the law in action. Modeling actual examples are the perfect way to get students excited about the topic. You can choose two easy examples. Students are probably familiar with these as well!
Sugar Water: First of all, you can take sugar and water. Show these two items separately, and then mix them together.
What do you have? You now have sugar water. Ask students: Did anything change? What? Did anything get created or destroyed in the process?
Melting Candle: Another example, that will get students thinking a little deeper, is showing a candle melting. You can choose to do this in person, which honestly still terrifies me. I would be the one to catch the school on fire! So, the other option is to show a video. This also speeds up the process.
Ask students the same questions. After the candle melted, what’s left? Did anything get created or destroyed in the process?
At this point, you’ll get a variety of answers. Now, you can introduce the law. They’ll be confused. Where did all the wax go?! If your students are wondering and confused, PERFECT. Now, it’s time to teach the content.
Balancing Chemical Equations How To
The Lesson
An interactive lesson on balancing chemical equations is definitely the way to go with this topic! With digital interaction lessons, students are introduced to topics by chunking content. This helps to reduce cognitive load. When you reduce cognitive load, students understand the content better and remember it better!
This lesson leads students step-by-step through the introductory content for balancing chemical equations such as chemical equations, element symbols, compounds, and parts of a chemical formula. Then, it leads students through the Law of Conservation of Mass and open and closed systems.
After, the lesson gets into what are the basic rules of balancing chemical equations, how do you balance chemical equations examples, and balancing chemical equation practice.
Students are guided step-by-step through these processes, and it’s such a guided process. Students are learning and practicing all at the same time!
There are many aspects of this lesson that helps students to reduce cognitive load including the highlighting of important information, showing information in segments, and showing worked examples.
Interactive lessons work great for instruction, working in partners, individual learning, small groups, science centers, and more!
Skip the Balancing Chemical Equations Worksheet
After students go through the lesson and are feeling CONFIDENT about the content they just learned, give them some more practice and let them explore the balancing chemical equation Phet. This is an amazing visual tool that gives your students a visual of balancing equations. With tools such as visual molecules, scales, and more, this a great tool for student to SEE the balancing equations and also emphasizes that you can only change the coefficients!
Which balancing chemical equations how to activities will you choose?
Help your students master science content!
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