Chemistry For The IB MYP 4&5: by Concept: Unit Planner
Chemistry For The IB MYP 4&5: by Concept: Unit Planner
Chemistry For The IB MYP 4&5: by Concept: Unit Planner
Unit title 5 What are the impacts of chemical industry? MYP year 4 Unit duration (hrs)
Statement of inquiry
The chemical industry has brought change that affects global interactions with positive and negative environmental impacts.
Inquiry questions
Factual— How can I distinguish acids and bases? What do the symbols of a chemical equation show?
Conceptual— Why must a chemical equation be balanced? How do atoms and their compounds persist in the environment?
Debatable— What is the fairest way to use our chemical resources?
Outline of summative assessment task(s) including Relationship between summative assessment task(s) and statement of
assessment criteria: inquiry:
A: All strands Criterion A: Knowing and understanding – Various problems allow for application of understanding of balanced
chemical equations, precipitation and acid–base reactions, and the uses
Some summative problems to try
of salts.
B: All strands Criterion B: Inquiring and designing, and Criterion C: Students independently test an ionic solid to evaluate how a variable may
Processing and evaluating – change its solubility.
C: All strands
Activity: Investigating a factor that affects solubility
D: All strands Criterion D: Reflecting on the impacts of science – Individually, students research and promote how a category of waste can
be disposed of safely.
Activity: Take Action: Responsible waste disposal
Communication skills:
use a variety of media to communicate with a range of audiences
negotiate ideas and knowledge with peers and teachers
make inferences and draw conclusions
use and interpret a range of discipline-specific terms and symbols
write for different purposes
understand and use mathematical notation
organize and depict information logically
Collaboration skills:
help others succeed
listen actively to other perspectives and ideas
encourage others to contribute
give and receive meaningful feedback
Organization skills:
plan short- and long-term assignments and meet deadlines
keep an organized and logical system of information files/notebooks
use appropriate strategies for organizing complex information
understand and use sensory learning preferences (learning styles)
Affective skills:
mindfulness; practise focus and concentration
Critical-thinking skills:
gather and organize relevant information to formulate an argument
interpret data
revise understanding based on new information and evidence
evaluate and manage risk
propose and evaluate a variety of solutions
Transfer skills:
apply skills and knowledge in unfamiliar situations
inquire in different contexts to gain a different perspective
make connections between subject groups and disciplines
Identify colour changes associated with a Activity: Balancing simple chemical equations ‘algebraically’ (p. 105)
range of indicators of acids and bases Individually or in pairs, students use this skill for equations that are difficult to balance ‘by
Describe the relationship between the pH inspection’.
scale and hydrogen ion concentration in a Activity: Managing ‘heavy metal’ water pollutants (p. 106)
solution Students develop a kit that can detect a ‘heavy metal’ (in an ionic solution). The kit may detect
Investigate the relationship between the more than one type of ion, but it must include the ion you are investigating. This kit can then be
concentration of an acid or a base and the used for testing the effectiveness of removing waste ions from a solution by precipitation. This is an
pH measured in a serial dilution opportunity to elaborate on the importance of risk management in chemical contexts and for
students to present the results of their investigation as balanced chemical equations.
Investigate acid–base reactions
experimentally, for example: formation of Activity: Clarifying your understanding of acids and bases (p. 109)
salts, by reacting (a) acids and carbonates, Individually or in pairs, students reflect on the history of ideas concerning acids and bases, including
(b) metal oxides and acids, and (c) metals Arrhenius and Bronsted–Lowry theory.
with acids Activity: Observing indicators of acids and bases (p. 110)
Compare the corrosive effects of acids Individually or in small groups, students test a variety of laboratory and natural indicators of acids
and bases and identify examples of uses and bases, to develop practical experience with the range of colour changes.
of salts Activity: pH (p. 111)
Investigate how a factor affects the Individually or in small groups, students reflect on their understanding of logarithmic scales and the
solubility of an ionic compound pH scale.
Present a Scientific Evaluation Report of a Activity: Investigating concentration and pH (p. 112)
case study of interest involving pollution Individually or in small groups, students test their understanding of the pH scale by investigating the
relationship between serial dilutions of strong and weak acids and bases and the effect on pH. To
Investigate the pH of an oxide to extend
manage the time involved when students create the dilutions, teachers may wish to consider
understanding of periodic table trends
performing the task as a collaborative exercise in which different teams of students each test a
Identify redox and non-redox reactions, particular acid or base and then collate their observations, prior to subsequent individual or pair
using examples discussed in this chapter analysis.
Some students could: The series of practical neutralization experiments listed below could be offered as work stations within
a long lesson.
Formulate balanced chemical equations
‘algebraically’ for chemical equations in Activity: Reactions of metal carbonates with acids (p. 113)
which simple compounds cannot be Individually or in small teams, students react carbonates with strong and weak acids and describe
balanced ‘by inspection’ the results.
Evaluate further examples of acid Activity: Comparing domestic acids and alkalis (p. 114)
pollution caused by emissions (acid rain, Individually or in small teams, students test a variety of household products using universal
ocean acidification and case studies indicator and then evaluate their corrosive effect on various materials.
associated with mining; dynamic learning
DYNAMIC LEARNING: Activity: Exploring neutralization
resource)
This activity has three parts: Reaction of metal oxides with acids, Reaction of metals with acids, and
Formulate balanced equations to describe Practising neutralization equations. Individually or in small teams, students complete practical
neutralization reactions activities and consolidate their understanding of equations.
Activity: Investigating a factor that affects solubility (p. 114)
Independently, students test a factor or factors that affect the solubility of an ionic compound in
aqueous solution. The DL resource Scaffold: Data presentation may be helpful to students in
deciding how to present their results.
DYNAMIC LEARNING: Template: Investigating a factor that affects solubility
DYNAMIC LEARNING: Scaffold: Data presentation
DYNAMIC LEARNING: Activity: Scientific Evaluation Report of a pollution case study
Students read about and research acids and bases in context, and examples of acid pollution – for
example, acid rain, ocean acidification and cases involving historic and modern mines – as formative
preparation for a Criterion D activity in which they produce a Scientific Evaluation Report involving
the chemical impacts of a human activity. This task aims to develop students’ understanding of the
role of scientists in government and business policy development. The report should be correctly
formatted, with tables or graphs, and appropriate citations for this purpose.
DYNAMIC LEARNING: Template: Scientific Evaluation Report of a pollution case study
Formative assessment
Criterion A: Knowing and understanding
Formulating balanced chemical equations including the use of correct state symbols. This
communication skill is fundamental if students are to master this discipline.
Differentiation
Use of pairwork, Think–Pair–Share routines and Fishbowl–think–aloud allows students to work with
each other, develop listening skills and develop each others’ understanding.
If offering the neutralization experiments as a series of work stations, consider using the readings of
case studies involving acid pollution as extension work for students who manage to complete the work
early.
Additional practise balancing chemical equations to describe neutralization are available in the Dynamic
Learning space.
A task that can be personalized is the written research task (Scientific Evaluation Report).
Summative problems are levelled, but problems in higher bands contain parts that can be accessed at
the lower levels of achievement.
Resources