Exploring Our Fluid Earth

Teaching Science as Inquiry (TSI) Lesson Plan
Module 1: Physical Aquatic Science

Name: Kevin Johnson

Activity: Soda and Scientific Reasoning

Why did you choose to do this activity?
When I did the activity I enjoyed how it made me think about what molecules must be dissolved into the water, and therefore fitting in-between the water molecules, that would affect the density of the liquids in the cans. I thought it really helped me to think about density at the molecular level.

What are your classroom learning goals?
To get students not really understand density, at the molecular level. Once someone
begins to think about density at the level of the individual molecules then I think they
have taken a major step towards a deep understanding of the atomic nature of matter.

How does this activity tie into your classroom learning goals?
They all had the same amount of liquid in each can, so whether they floated or sank
depended upon the density of the liquid, or the number of atoms and of which elements,
were contained in the liquid. Once a student grasps this idea then they are on their way
to a fundamental intuitive grasp of the concept of density and how it helps explain the
atomic nature of all matter. I believe this intuitive feeling for matter is crucial to
understanding the changes and interactions that matter can go through that a student
studies in a chemistry class.

What date do you plan to start this activity?
October 22, 2012.

If applicable: HIDOE standards this lesson will address

Ocean
1. Describe how you will connect this activity to the ocean:
The students will also do the density bag lesson. Along with that I will lead a discussion about the different densities of liquids due to the number of, and atomic masses of the atoms and molecules dissolved between the water molecules that make up the different sodas and the difference between sea water and fresh water.

2. Select the Ocean Literacy Principle(s) that you anticipate this activity will address. (check all that apply)
 1. The Earth has one big ocean with many features.
 2. The ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of the Earth.
 3. The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate.
 4. The ocean makes earth habitable
 5. The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems.
 6. The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected
 7. The ocean is largely unexplored
Preparation
1. How will you prepare your students for this activity? (For example, review of prior knowledge.) Earlier this year we did an activity in which students massed pieces of different materials and had to identify the unknown materials by the densities that were determined. We reviewed that activity and revisited the concept of density.

2. Explain any instructional struggles that you foresee and how you will address these issues. (For example, student misconceptions, classroom discussion, aspects most difficult for students to grasp, etc.) Getting students to take the time to think about what they have observed and try to come up with logical explanations for their observations is always a difficult task. The key is to avoid the easy way out by explaining the phenomenon to them, but allow them to struggle with the concepts and develop their own logical answers.

3. Select the TSI Mode(s) of Inquiry that you will focus on for this activity. (check all that apply)
 Curiosity
 Description
 Authoritative knowledge
 Experimentation
 Product evaluation
 Technology
 Replication
 Induction
 Deduction
 Transitive Knowledge

Questioning and Assessment Strategies
1. What questioning strategies will you use to help your students meet your learning goals? Cause/Effect, Paraphrase/Summarize, Clarify, Example,
Definition.

2. What assessment strategies will you use to help your students meet your learning goals and monitor their progress? Knowledge survey, Concept test, Written report.

Please provide any additional comments that will help you prepare to teach this activity or help the TSI facilitators understand how you plan to teach this activity.
I will follow the model provided by the excellent TSI staff when we did this activity together on Kauai. I thought it was excellent.