The Mysteries of Matter!

Introduction

Science Detective: Your top secret mission is to discover the secrets to the mysteries of matter. You will explore the amazing atom. Be careful! You may may be confronted with some challenges along the way! Once you have completed your investigation log on the amazing atom, your next mission will be to unravel another mystery of your choice as a group. You will then report your findings to the rest of the detectives and your head agent. Make sure you stay on the path! And remember, all good detectives keep notes! Good luck!

Your Tasks

Mission 1: Follow these steps carefully!

1. Print our your investigation report. Read through your log or report carefully before you begin so you know what is expected of you.

2. Visit the following sites to learn about atoms. First, visit Brainpop and watch a video. If you cannot access the video, that’s okay. You may investigate the rest of that page only for other clue on atoms.

3. The next site you will visit is the The Atoms Family. You must investigate the Phantom’s Portrait Parlor. Here, you will complete four tasks: Explore these two sites to find out more about Atoms : Phases of Matter and Spectroscope of an Atom.

Next, you will complete two activities: Paper Cutting and Mighty Molecules. Get the supplies from your head agent (teacher). You may print out these activities if needed.

4. Once you have completed these activities, complete your investigation log and turn it in to your head agent.

Mission 2: Read through your next mission completely before you begin

1. Your next mission is to unravel another mystery of your choice as a small group of 3 or 4 detectives. You will be reporting your findings to the rest of the detectives, as well as your head agent. You may choose one of the following mysteries to unravel:

• What are ions and how do they change atoms? What is the difference between a positively and negatively charged atom and how does it occur?
• How are compounds formed? What happens to an elements characteristics once a compound is made? Name some common compounds.
• What is the difference between a physical change and a chemical change? Look in your book and under reactions to help you.
• What is a chemical reaction? What must occur for a reaction to take place?
• What is an element? List five common elements and their characteristics.
• What is the difference between an acid and a base? How is a pH scale used? What is an indicator? Provide examples.
• What is acid rain? How is it formed? What are its effects?
• What are polymers? What are they made of?

You must meet the following requirements to be prepared for your oral report:

• You must use your Discovery Works science book as an additional resource.
• You must understand the concept. Put an explanation into your own words. If it doesn’t make sense to you, it won’t make sense to others.
• You must have a visual aid. Your visual aid will be an overhead that you may fill with an easy description and any diagrams that will help the other detectives.
• Each detective in your group must have a part in the presentation. Be prepared to answer any questions that may arise.
  

Good job, Detectives! You have unraveled some of the mysteries of matter! To congratulate you on your effort, you may sit back and enjoy reading about some superheroes in The Comic Book of Elements!

Collected Evidence of Learning: Investigation Log Observed Participation Group Presentation   Standards and Checkpoints covered: Science Standards 1.1, 1.3, and 2a.1

Concepts:

• All matter is made up of tiny paricles that are in constant motion; change in matter always involve changes in energy.
  • Matter undergoes physical and chemical changes; chemical changes involve the rearragement of particles--atoms and molecules--that make up matter.
    • A physical change is a sample of matter involves changes in its physical properties only; a chemical hcange involves the production of one or more new substances.
    • Acids and basss are two clsses of compounds tha can be identified by their effect on certain dyes called indicators.