Topic: Metals and their properties

Target group

Elementary school student (grades 7. and 8.)

Core curriculum:

Primary school. Chemistry.

I. Substances and their properties. Pupil:

8) classifies elements into metals and non‑metals; differentiates metals from non‑metals based on their properties.

General aim of education

The student discusses the properties of metals.

Key competences

• communication in foreign languages;

• digital competence;

• learning to learn.

Criteria for success
The student will learn:

• indicate metals in the periodic table of elements;

• design an experience that allows testing the properties of metals;

• plan the experience to compare the properties of metals.

Methods/techniques

• activating

  • discussion.

• expository

  • talk.

• exposing

  • film.

• programmed

  • with computer;

  • with e‑textbook.

• practical

  • exercices concerned.

Forms of work

• individual activity;

• activity in pairs;

• activity in groups;

• collective activity.

Teaching aids

• e‑textbook;

• notebook and crayons/felt‑tip pens;

• interactive whiteboard, tablets/computers.

Lesson plan overview

Introduction

1. The teacher hands out Methodology Guide or green, yellow and red sheets of paper to the students to be used during the work based on a traffic light technique. He presents the aims of the lesson in the student's language on a multimedia presentation and discusses the criteria of success (aims of the lesson and success criteria can be send to students via e‑mail or posted on Facebook, so that students will be able to manage their portfolio).

2. The teacher together with the students determines the topic – based on the previously presented lesson aims – and then writes it on the interactive whiteboard/blackboard. Students write the topic in the notebook.

3. Health and safety – before starting the experiments, students familiarise themselves with the safety data sheets of the substances that will be used during the lesson. The teacher points out the need to be careful when working with them.

Realization

1. The teacher informs students that metals have had a significant impact on the development of civilization. Their preparation and processing also initiated the development of chemistry. Already in the antiquity seven metals were known - iron, copper, silver, gold, tin, lead and mercury - they were used to produce tools, everyday objects, jewelery, weapons, as well as to make the first coins.

2. The teacher conducts classes using the reverse method - students in seven groups were to prepare at home information on the properties and applications of the seven metals mentioned in the previous section, using the mental map. Group leaders using the „talking wall” technique discuss the effects of work. The teacher summarizes the information.

3. The instructor divides the students into groups. He asks them to prepare an observation journal in the abstract and informs them that they will perform the „Physical properties testing of selected metals” experiment according to the instructions described in the abstract. Before this happens, they are to formulate and write a research question, followed by observations and conclusions. After the experiment, the group leaders present the effects of the activities - the discussion lasts and the teacher sums up the students' work.

4. At the end of the lesson, the teacher asks students to do interactive exercises in the abstract.

Summary

1. Teacher asks: If there was going to be a test on the material we have covered today, what questions do you think would you have to answer? If the students do not manage to name all the most important questions, the teacher may complement their suggestions.

2. The teacher displays the criteria for success and asks the students to assess their skills acquired during the classes.

Homework

1. Imagine that you have the opportunity to interview an academic - a specialist in the field of today's lesson. What questions would you like to ask him? Write them down.

The following terms and recordings will be used during this lesson

Terms

Texts and recordings

Metals and their properties

Information about metals can be obtain from:

• conducted experiments (e.g., examining physical and chemical properties by means of the senses),

• data from the periodic table of elements or chemical tables.

Common metals features

• Metals are by definition substances that have 4 definitional features: they are malleable, they conduct electricity, heat and have a metallic gloss.

• Metals at room temperature are characterized by: a constant state of matter (except mercury), silvery‑white or silvery‑grey colour (with the exception of gold, copper).

metal, properties of metals, gold, argentum, copper, precious metals