Explaining Elephant Toothpaste
- Grade
- 6, 7, 8
- Duration
- Instructional Model
- Storylines
- Curriculum Alignment
- OpenSciEd
Phenomenon:
Natural
What's happening to matter during the elephant toothpaste demo?
Summary:
Students investigate the elephant's toothpaste reaction to identify the gas produced and explain the observed mass change. They practice analyzing and interpreting data from observations and tables (mass, flammability, density) to construct evidence-based arguments and plan investigations. The task engages central science ideas: chemical reactions produce new substances, matter has characteristic properties used for identification (e.g., density), gas is matter with mass, and mass can change in an open system.
- Physical Sciences
Student Activities
- Using models
- Making observations
- Constructing arguments
Key Materials Needed:
- Internet connection
What will this task address?
Science and Engineering Practices
-
Engaging in Argument from Evidence
Disciplinary Core Ideas
-
PS1.B: Matter and Its Interactions - Chemical Reactions
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PS1.A: Matter and Its Interactions - Structure and Properties of Matter
Crosscutting Concepts
-
Patterns
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Cause and Effect: Mechanism and Explanation
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Energy and Matter: Flow, Cycles, and Conservation
Performance Expectations
-
MS-PS1-5
-
MS-PS1-2
Task Features
Accessibility
Agency
Communication
Metacognition
Highlights:
- Includes scoring guidance
- Includes student work samples
- Includes translations
- Culturally relevant
- Authentic phenomena
- Emphasizes DCI
- Emphasizes SEP
- Designed with students
- Designed with teachers
Task Documents
About the Task Design
These tasks, embedded in OpenSciEd storyline units, engage students in three-dimensional sensemaking of complex phenomena, using SEPs and CCCs to demonstrate deep conceptual understanding of DCIs rather than recall discrete content. These tasks can be used within instructional models that emphasize coherent building of science ideas through the practices of science.
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-
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External Link
Access the full unit on OpenSciEd
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