The Teacher Guide is the driving and unifying component of this unit, Chemical Reactions and Energy. In this unit, students investigate the phenomenon of energy and its involvement in chemical reactions. The subtitle of this unit is How can use chemical reactions to design a solution to a problem? The observation of changes in energy during chemical reactions is a phenomenon that students experience when they see how flameless heating works in an MRE or an air-activated hand warmer. What reaction causes these to heat up? This unit allows students to observe phenomena in detail and start asking questions, formulating explanations, setting up and conducting activities and research, and working with classmates to analyze the shared experience and formulate new questions and developing new products using the principles of engineering design.

CKSci Middle School is an enhanced republication of the OpenSciEd Middle School project–with a unique, integrated Core Knowledge science literacy component.

Learn more about the CKSci Middle School Program