W1:Day 1: Elephant toothpaste
🔥 Action Challenge: The Power of Chemistry!
- Peroxide
- Dish soap
- Yeast
- Coveralls
- Warm-hot water
- Water bottles or others.
📽️ Step 1: Introduction Video (3-5 min)
🎥 Title: Chemistry in Action – The Science Behind Explosions! [1]
📌 Contents:
- What is a Chemical Reaction? (Simple explanation: Atoms rearrange to make new substances!)
- How Chemistry Powers Everyday Life:
- Soap cleans grease ✨
- Batteries create electricity ⚡
- Baking soda makes cakes rise 🍰
- The Foam Frenzy Reaction! (Preview of ingredients and a quick teaser of the reaction!) [2]
💡 Engaging Hook:
- Show a fast-motion clip of foam erupting.
- Ask: Can you figure out why this happens?
- Get ready to compete in the ultimate chemistry challenge!
💡 Step 2: Socratic A/B Discussion (5-7 min)
🤔 Before the challenge, let’s think like scientists!
- A/B Question 1: How Do We Make It Better?
- A: The reaction is already set; we can’t control much.
- B: We can change things like temperature, mixing speed, or ratios to get a better reaction!
- Follow-up: Which one do you agree with? Why?
- A/B Question 2: Should We Prioritize Size or Speed?
- A: A bigger foam explosion is best.
- B: A faster eruption is better.
- Follow-up: Which would make the reaction more exciting?
- A/B Question 3: Why Does Dish Soap Matter?
- A: It helps break down the yeast.
- B: It traps gas and makes bubbles.
- Follow-up: What happens if we leave it out?
🔍 Key Takeaway: Every part of the reaction has a purpose! Now, let’s test it out!
🧪 Step 3: Foam Frenzy Challenge!
🏆 Mission:
Harness the power of chemistry to create the most spectacular foam eruption!
🎯 Challenge Rules:
✅ Identical materials for each team:
- Hydrogen peroxide (fuel for reaction)
- Yeast (catalyst)
- Dish soap (bubble trap)
- Food coloring (color boost)
🚀 Goal: Create the biggest, fastest, and most colorful foam explosion!
🕐 You have 5 minutes to prepare, mix, and react!
🏅 Scoring Criteria:
1️⃣ Biggest Foam Explosion – Height and volume!
2️⃣ Most Vibrant Color – Bold, creative, and eye-catching!
3️⃣ Fastest Reaction – How quickly does it erupt?
💡 Bonus Challenges (Optional):
🔥 Color Code: Teams must match an assigned color!
⏱️ Timed Reaction: Eruption must happen within a set time frame!
🧠 Step 4: Acton Mindset – Iterate & Improve!
💭 Reflection Questions:
- What worked best in your reaction?
- What would you change if you did it again?
- How does this reaction compare to real-world chemistry, like baking or cleaning?
💡 Final Thought: Science is about testing, adjusting, and learning—just like this challenge!
🎉 Ready? Let the Foam Frenzy begin! 🚀🔥
Basic Recipe Ingredients:
- ½ cup (120 mL) hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) – 6% or 12% (Higher concentrations create bigger reactions.)
- 1 packet (or 1 tbsp) dry yeast
- 3 tbsp warm water (activates the yeast)
- A few drops of dish soap (helps trap oxygen in bubbles)
- Food coloring (for a colorful foam eruption)
- A tall container (like a soda bottle or beaker)
Instructions:
- Prepare the Yeast Catalyst
- In a small cup, mix 1 tbsp yeast with 3 tbsp warm water.
- Stir well and let it sit for about 1 minute to activate.
- Set Up the Reaction
- In the tall container, pour ½ cup hydrogen peroxide.
- Add a few drops of dish soap and swirl to mix.
- (Optional) Add food coloring to make it more vibrant.
- Start the Reaction! 🚀
- Quickly pour the yeast mixture into the hydrogen peroxide.
- Step back and watch the foamy eruption!
How It Works:
- Hydrogen peroxide naturally breaks down into water and oxygen.
- Yeast contains catalase, an enzyme that speeds up this reaction.
- The oxygen gets trapped in soap bubbles, creating the expanding foam!
=In journey tracker:
- Report your best recipe
- Upload a picture of your explosion
- Explain what the bubbles are made of. How did you test it?
- Why can you flush the foam down the sink?=
Jeopardy
- What is a chemical reaction?
- What does the term “catalyst” mean?
- What is hydrogen peroxide used for in the foam experiment?
- What happens to hydrogen peroxide when it breaks down?
- What is the role of yeast in the foam eruption?
- Why do we use dish soap in the foam reaction?
- What is a catalyst in the foam explosion experiment?
- What happens when yeast breaks down hydrogen peroxide?
- What causes the foam to rise rapidly in the experiment?
- Why do we use warm water to activate the yeast?
Real-World Chemistry Applications:
- How does soap clean grease?
- How do batteries generate electricity?
- What causes baking soda to make cakes rise?
- What common household product can break down hydrogen peroxide?
- Why do people use hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant?
- What is the purpose of using food coloring in the foam eruption?
- How does heat affect the speed of a chemical reaction?
- What happens to a reaction if you add more yeast?
- What would happen if you used cold water instead of warm water?
- Can you use any type of soap for the foam experiment?
Science Fun Facts:
- What is the chemical symbol for hydrogen peroxide?
- What gas is released in the foam eruption?
- Which is more reactive: hydrogen peroxide or water?
- Can yeast be used for other chemical reactions, like baking bread?
- What is foam made of?
- What causes the bubbles in the foam?
- Why is the reaction faster when the temperature is higher?
- What happens if you add too much yeast to the reaction?
- What is the main difference between a physical change and a chemical change?
- What does “exothermic” mean when describing a reaction?