Middle School Science Lessons

Objectives: Students will be able to classify the characteristics of Acids and Bases

Materials:

• Acids & Bases Google Slides – guided lesson (Google Slides, view only)
• Handout – print pages 3 & 4 or page 5 Acids & Bases Venn Diagram pdf
  • Glue & scissors if using as cut ‘n paste activity
  • Optional – red & blue colored pens or pencils
  • the properties will appear in the Venn diagram in number order
• Distance Learning Version – Google Slides in Google Classroom
• Older Versions
  • Acids & Bases Venn Diagram worksheet (pdf)

This is a fun activity to get students thinking about the properties of acids and bases based on their prior knowledge. Then using what they know, can they figure out the rest of the properties?

I like to do this activity as a friendly competition and see how many each pair of students can answer correctly. Before the students place items into the Venn diagram, I ask them to look at the properties and write a red “A” next to the property if they think it belongs to an acid, a blue “B” if they think it belongs to bases, and “AB” if it belongs to both categories.

Once they have completed categorizing the properties on their own, have each student share their answers with their seat partner. What was the same? What was different? Have them discuss their reasoning for each answer and try to come to a consensus. (You can add an additional step by asking partners to compare answers with another set of partners.) When they are ready, reveal each answer, one at a time, and discuss. Students will write (or glue in) each property into the Venn diagram.

Another version is to cut out the properties as slips and randomly hand out 2-3 properties to each group of students then call on students to classify their property as A, B, or AB when their property is called, then reveal the answer.