Middle School Inquiry Lab on Molecules
In this lab students will develop different models of the simple and complex molecules found in soda.
Each inquiry lab will contain an essential question that will drive the lesson and make students think. For this lesson, the essential question is:
- How are models used to depict simple and complex compounds?
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND MATERIALS LIST:
Students will begin the lab by reading the essential question and background information. This can be done individually, as lab groups, or as a whole class. If you consider lab groups, you also might include some type of whole class formative checks before digging into the lab.
Materials List:
- 4 different colors of mini marshmallows
- toothpicks
PROCEDURE:
For this lab, students work to complete two tasks in order to understand the differences and similarities between simple and complex molecules. The first activity will have students identify the number of elements and atoms present in four different molecules. Next, students will create a model for each type of simple and complex molecule. Using the information from the first part, students will create ball-and-stick models to represent each molecule. Using marshmallows and toothpicks and a student lab sheet with Lewis structures, students create 3-D models of the molecules.
CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING:
At this point in the lab, students will be checked for understanding by answering questions about their findings. Here are a few that come with the lab:
- What do models show us about molecules?
- After looking at all of these models, why is life on Earth referred to as “carbon-based?”
CONCLUSION
Students will go back to the essential question and write a CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning) to conclude the lab. Once completed, students will reflect back on their learning by answering the following questions:
- Compare your molecules and explain the differences and similarities between the simple and complex molecules.
- This lab had you create models with marshmallows. Come up with at least two other ideas for materials that could be used to model molecules.
MODIFIED AND INDEPENDENT INQUIRY VERSIONS
All of the Kesler Science inquiry labs come with three different modification levels. Each lab is differentiated using the icons below.
STANDARDS ALIGNMENT
NGSS MS LS1-7 – Develop a model to describe how food is rearranged through chemical reactions forming new molecules that support growth and/or release energy as this matter moves through an organism.
