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Why do some things explode?

Why do some things explode?
Lesson narration:
English Spanish
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DISCUSS:

What makes these things explode? What’s going on?

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DISCUSS:

Why do you think the containers were shattering?

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DISCUSS:

On the back of your worksheet, draw a picture using a particle model to explain why the bag exploded. (Or you can label or add to the picture you drew earlier.)

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Anchor Connection

DISCUSS (1 of 2) :

Look at the "Wonder" column of your class See-Think-Wonder chart. Have any questions been answered by this lesson?

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DISCUSS (2 of 2) :

When the acid rain and the gargoyle react, what new substances might be produced? Where would they go? Go to the next slide and fill in your evidence chart.

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Slide Image
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explosion


1 of 11

when something bursts outwards
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Slide Image

substance


2 of 11

a material that has specific properties
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chemical reaction


3 of 11

a process where one or more substances form a new substance
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states of matter


4 of 11

the different forms of matter that include solid, liquid, and gas
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liquid


5 of 11

a state of matter, such as water when you can pour it
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gas


6 of 11

a state of matter, such as water when it is steam
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carbon dioxide


7 of 11

a type of gas that plants sometimes take in and that animals release when they breathe
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oxygen


8 of 11

a type of gas that animals use to breathe and that plants release
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particle


9 of 11

a very tiny thing, sometimes too small to be seen
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experiment


10 of 11

a test used to discover new information about a question
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model


11 of 11

a pretend version of something that scientists use when the real thing is too big, small, or complicated to work with
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Lesson narration:
English Spanish

Activity Prep

Print Prep

In this lesson, students investigate and model how gases cause explosions. In the activity, Bag of Bubbles, students experiment by combining baking soda and vinegar inside a sealed bag and observe how the gas bubbles produced cause the bag to inflate–and sometimes pop!

Preview activity
Number of students:

I have a Mystery Pack

Capturing Chaos worksheet 1 per student
Stretchy Bag Templates printout 1 per group
Clean-up Supplies (Eg. Paper Towels)
1 roll per class
Scissors
1 pair per student
Baking Soda
4 tablespoons per pair
Dixie Cups (3 oz)
1 cup per student
Measuring Cup
1 cup per class
Plastic Plates (10")
You can also use large, sturdy paper plates.
Details
1 plate per pair
Plastic Spoons
2 spoons per pair
Solo Cups (9 oz)
You can use any plastic container that can hold about 1/2 cup of liquid.
Details
2 cups per group
White Vinegar
1 cup per 8 students
Ziploc Bags (Snack Size)
We do not suggest using sandwich size bags because they need more vinegar and baking soda to inflate, and the resulting explosion is likely to overflow the plastic plate.
Details
1 bag per student
Safety Glasses
1 pair per student
Prep Instructions

We strongly recommend that students wear eye protection for this activity.

We suggest students work in pairs for the first activity, and in groups of four for the second activity. Students working alone will need a partner for the first activity, and a few friends to help with the second activity.

Prepare the Vinegar and Baking Soda

Divide your plastic cups (or plastic containers) in half. For each of the cups in one of the piles, pour about ½ cup of vinegar. For the other cups, pour about ½ cup of baking soda into each.

Separate Supplies for Easy Distribution

For the first activity, students will need the following supplies, plus a recommended pair of safety goggles for each person:

Bag of Bubbles Supplies

In the second activity, students will work in groups of four and will need the following materials:

Bag of Bubbles Model Supplies

You may want to separate these for ease of classroom distribution.

Exploration

11 mins

Hands-On Activity

30 mins

Wrap-Up

4 mins

Anchor Connection

20 mins

Extend this lesson

Vocabulary

Unit Reading

Activity

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