Acids and Bases Introduction Activities and Teaching Sequence for Montessori Classrooms

 

 

Acids and alkalines is an invaluable chemistry topic to cover in your Montessori homeschool or classroom. The great thing about this topic is that there are a myriad of everyday experiences and resources that you can use that are little to no cost.

First a bit of background in case, like me you needed a refresher before teaching the concept! 

 

Acids and alkalines are two types of substances that can change how things taste and react with each other.

Acids taste sour, like lemons or vinegar.

However not all acids can be consumed, like battery acid.

 

Alkalines, sometimes called bases, are bitter.

Alkalines can be found in baking soda and soda.

Like acids highly alkali substances can be lethal.

 

When acids and alkalines mix they can neutralise each other.

This reacion is a chemical reaction which produces bubbles, heat or a different color. 

 

In the human body acids, and alkalines help keep everything working properly. 

 

Teaching Sequence - to be covered over multiple days and sessions at a speed that meets the needs of the learner.

 

1) Have different acidic or alkali items as examples. If possible have the real thing. Ask students what they know about the words acid and alkali. If they have heard of them ask the students to classify where the objects go. If not you can introduce them and where they go. The chart in this resource is helpful for this

 

2) Introduce what pH is with pH paper with possible again the above chart shows what pH levels show. Ask students how knowing the pH of something is helpful?

 

3) I like to then get straight into some Acid and Alkali science experiments. These can also be put onto the shelves for repeated practise too! When doing experiments talking about the scientific process is very important, doing it when undertaking an actual experiment is also a lot more practical than teaching the very 'dry' concept of what scientists do seperate from an actual topic. 

 

 

4) For more advanced learners students can create their own pH experiment and place it on the shelf for their peers to do.

 

5) Putting all this back into real life is essential. Students can come up with ideas of where knowing about pH is necessary or an inherent part of something. The sorting activity in the acid and alkali pack looks at different ways knowing about pH is helpful and it has answers on the back too!

 

Complete with easy-to-follow instructions, this set makes learning about pH fun, educational, and interactive and aligns with the above scope and sequence !