Chemical Reactions and Synthetic Materials Review Puzzles NGSS MS-PS-1 Chemistry

A set of 9 physical science review puzzles that have students practice critical thinking skills and apply concepts related to chemical reactions, determining if a chemical reaction has occurred, examples of synthetic and natural materials, and the life cycle of synthetic materials. Designed for NGSS Middle School Physical Science Standards.

NGSS Standards Addressed:

• MS-PS-1-2 Analyze and interpret data on the properties of substances before and after the substances interact to determine whether a chemical reaction has occurred
• MS-PS-1-3 Gather and make sense of information to describe that synthetic materials come from natural resources and impact society
• MS-PS-1-5 Develop and use a model to describe how the total number of atoms does not change in a chemical reaction and thus mass is conserved

Topics Covered:

1. What did one firefly friend say to another? Students identify the events as a physical or chemical change to solve the puzzle. Supports NGSS MS-PS-1-2
2. What is the definition of a caterpillar? (2 versions) Students are asked to match definitions to vocabulary terms Vocabulary: chemical bond, chemical formula, chemical reaction, endothermic, exothermic, reactant, product, conservation of mass (conservation of matter), chemical change, physical change, atoms. Supports NGSS MS-PS-1-2
3. What kind of math do birds like? Students decide if the statement describes evidence of a chemical reaction. This was developed to do with my curriculum materials and my students are told that it usually takes a combination of several of these observations to be certain that a chemical change has occurred. Challenging Observations for students (ones that cannot be used isolated as the only evidence) are included with more details in the teacher notes Supports NGSS MS-PS-1-2
4. What do you call it when you cross a dinosaur with a pig? Students interpret a data table about the properties of two liquids before and after mixing and heating. Using the information in the table they must decide if the statement is true or false. Questions 4-9 have students deciding if the statement could be evidence to support the claim “a chemical reaction has taken place” Supports NGSS MS-PS-1-2
5. What kind of doctors are like spiders? Using the provided definition of a natural material and a synthetic material they sort 9 examples into synthetic or natural Examples for sorting: lumber(wood), steel, plastic, silk, glass, natural gas, nylon fabric, cotton fabric, and latex rubber (from trees) Supports NGSS MS-PS-1-3
6. What did the cupcake say to the fork? Students are asked to match definitions to vocabulary terms Vocabulary: natural resources, petroleum, elements, natural gas, nonrenewable resource, renewable resource, nylon, silk, physical change, chemical reaction, synthetic material, mineral, sunlight (as an example of a renewable resource) Supports NGSS MS-PS-1-3
7. Why did the fisherman put peanut butter into the sea? Students are asked to match definitions to vocabulary terms. This worksheet was developed to support lessons on the life cycles of various synthetic objects. The selected vocabulary reflects those sources. Vocabulary: needs, desires, values, life cycle, obtain resources, recycled, reused, discarded, waste and emissions, jobs, manufacturing, distribution. Supports NGSS MS-PS-1-3
8. What material makes the best kites? Students are asked to match definitions to vocabulary terms, determine if the examples follow the Law of Conservation, and determine the missing mass using the Law of Conservation. This worksheet was developed to support my standards that use “The Law of Conservation of Matter”. I know that some teachers prefer to use “The Law of Conservation of Mass” So I have included a version using that term as well. Vocabulary: reactant, product, law of conservation of matter (mass).Supports NGSS MS-PS-1-5
9. Why did the cookie go to the doctor? (2 versions). Students are asked to determine if the examples follow the Law of Conservation using both models and chemical formulas. This worksheet was developed to support my standards that use “ The Law of Conservation of Matter”. I know that some teachers prefer to use “The Law of Conservation of Mass” So I have included a version using that term as well. Supports NGSS MS-PS-1-5

Usage Recommendations: These worksheets are versatile and can be utilized for independent practice, in stations, as homework assignments, or as part of emergency substitute teacher plans for unexpected schedule changes.

Contains

Cover, TOU, and credits (2 pages)

Teacher Notes (2 pages)

9 different Puzzles

Answer Key (9 pages)