Atoms Unit Part 4: Moles, Subscripts, Coefficients, Balancing Equations

This unit includes 6 lessons of about 50 minutes and 14 pages of printable work bundle. The work bundle chronologically follows the entire set of interactive slideshows (hundreds and hundreds of amazing slides). Students record fill-in notes on the red slides, answer questions, balance equations, and take assessments all in the work bundle. The slideshows are engaging and interactive throughout.

The unit begins discussing the mole, and describes how its just another quantity, but for measuring large quantities of a small entities. A series of slides get students calculating molar masses of molecules. The next lesson focuses on molar conversions. The work bundle and slideshow are chronological throughout. Students follow along in the slideshow answer questions in their work bundle. They follow along several times and then are given the chance to do some conversions on their own. Some questions require them to obtain the molar mass form the prior days lesson. The next lesson focuses on Subscripts and coefficients. Both are described with a highlighting technique in PowerPoint that illuminates important vocabulary with visuals. The PowerPoint is interactive and requires student's to look at the slide and tell how many total atoms are in the molecule, and then how many atoms of each element are present. Empty squares light up and you can call upon students for the answer. The next slide reveals the answer and everything is color coded to ensure understanding and limit confusion. I use this lesson to set up my balancing chemical equations lesson bundle. Two worksheets are then provided with a video tutorial. A link to video that reviews the first 4 questions on the worksheet is provided (8 minutes). Students can then complete the remainder of the two worksheets on their own. A hidden box game and then 10 question PowerPoint Quiz with answers are provided. The answers at the end allows the students to self assess. A homework sheet with answers is also provided. The color coding and step by step approach makes learning this challenging concept easy. It's helpful if students have a periodic table and some knowledge of the elements prior to this lesson but not necessary. Your students will really enjoy this lesson bundle. Balancing equations is described and why its important / what can be learned from balancing them. How to balance is described with a one step at time approach. Chemicals are urged to have boxes put around them and a chemical inventory list is constantly being referenced to. The PowerPoint takes the students through a few examples before they are asked to attempt a few on their own. An activity sheet with more equations and answers is provided in the Entire Unit that is described below but absent from this PowerPoint. A video link has students watch a video to balance equations another way without the use of inventory boxes. A link to online quiz and other websites are included. A series of hidden box games conclude this PowerPoint that have relevant pictures covered up. Each slide reveals more of the picture beneath and students take guesses as to the picture beneath. This is a neat PowerPoint that gets the students participating in some difficult science. I like having the students do the inventory box method of balancing equations over other methods.