4 Activities for Chemical Reactions

Feb 6

Whether your students are just starting out with chemical reactions, or you’ve been writing chemical reactions for a couple of weeks, you know that worksheets have long ruled the reactions unit. But if you’re anything like me, worksheet after worksheet can get so boring. The students get bored, and so do I. Not to say that a worksheet doesn’t have its time and place. But in this blog, I’m going to mention some of my favorite non-worksheet activities and games for practicing types of reactions and predicting products. And if you keep reading, there’s a freebie for you!

Types of Reactions PIT.

PIT is an engaging game for students to practice categorizing types of reactions. Teams are provided with a set of cards, and a team trader is designated. That trader can trade cards with other teams. The goal is to get all the cards to match a category. Maybe a team gets all of the cards in their possession to fit the category “single replacement.” Once they believe they have completed that task, they ring a bell or something similar. You check to make sure they are correct, and that all the cards in their possession match the category. If they do, that team wins. If they don’t, play continues. To learn more about how to set it up and the details of the rules, check out this blog post on using PIT in the classroom.

Balancing Equations Pixel Art.

When we are first learning how to balance chemical equations, I love using a self-checking pixel art. As students balance each chemical equation in a Google Sheet, the sheet is formatted to pop up color if the coefficients are correct for the reaction. It provides students with immediate feedback so that they can ask for help in the moment if they are still struggling with balancing equations. This is not an activity that is quickly made…BUT. Did you know I have a free Balancing Equations Pixel Art available in my TPT store. You can download that free resource here.

BUT WAIT…there’s another FREEBIE for you if you keep reading.

Predicting Products Write the Room.

I for sure use some worksheets during the reactions unit. Practice is needed, and needs to be repeated, when it comes to chemical reactions. BUT sometimes I just don’t want another worksheet. A quick way to modify a worksheet is to turn it into a Write the Room activity. Write the Room activities are kind of like a quick stations activity. Pick 10 reactions, and put one reaction per sheet of paper. Provide the reactants, and the prompt will be for students to predict the products and then to write and balance the equation. Post the reactions around the room so that you invite some movement. Have students work in pairs, writing down their answers as they go. They can write down their work on a whiteboard, or if you want them to turn it in, on a separate sheet of paper. This quick activity provides the same practice, but the students aren’t sitting at their desk filling in another worksheet. If you want to learn more about how to make and set up Write the Room activities, you can check out this blog post.

Types of Reactions Clothespin Task Card Race.

In this task card activity, teams work together to be the first team to correctly identify types of reactions. Each team starts with a task card and a clothespin, along with a recording sheet. The team discusses, and clips the clothespin onto the corresponding bubble on the task card. For example, if the team thinks the reaction is a synthesis reaction, they clip the clothespin to the “S” bubble on the task card. A representative brings me the task card with the clothespin, along with their recording sheet. If the team if correct, I mark that they have completed the task card correctly on their recording sheet. They get to discard that task card, and pick up another. If the team was not correct, I send them back to their team to discuss and change their answer. The first team, or two, to correctly identify all 24 tasks cards is the winner! If you want to learn how to make your own clothespin task cards, you can read this blog post.

I’m giving a Types of Reactions Clothespin Task Card Race as a freebie to my email subscribers. If you want this free, engaging resource, join my email list!

Thanks so much for reading! I hope you came away with an idea or two. Or maybe these ideas will spark your creativity. Let me know if you do anything similar in your classroom on Instagram (@unbroken_bond) by sending me a DM or tagging me in your posts. Pin the image below to revisit this post later. Happy teaching!