In this 26-37 day lesson bundle, students complete 5 lessons around the idea of flavor. This lesson bundle is intended to be used for introductory high school chemistry classes. Students are introduced to atomic structure, formation of ions, ionic bonds, covalent bonds, polar bonds and polarity through phenomena that include sports drinks, salt, sugar solutions and candies, spice and peppers, and lemonade.
 
Science practices are heavily emphasized and include developing models, asking questions, analyzing and interpreting data, engaging in arguments from evidence, and obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information.
 
Lesson 1: Sports Drinks & Electrolytes: Atomic Structure & Ions (8-10 days)
Explore atomic structure and ions by unpacking what electrolytes are, why we need them, and why they are in sports drinks.
 
Lesson 2: Salt: Ionic Compounds & Separation Methods (5-8 days)
Explore how salt is extracted and made, how and why different types of salt vary, and salt’s purpose in food and cooking.
 
Lesson 3: Sugar (Rock Candy & Tanghulu): Solutions & Covalent Bonding (4 days)
Explore sugar solutions, the basis of many candies, by making rock candy and unpacking sucrose molecular structure, the process of dissolving, the importance of concentration and temperature, and another sugar-based candy: tanghulu.
 
Lesson 4: Spiciness (Peppers): Polarity & Mixing Substances (6-10 days)
Explore capsaicin, the primary molecule behind spice, and see how its molecular structure explains its behavior with other substances.
 
Lesson 5: Sourness & Butterfly Pea Lemonade: pH and Acids  (3-5 days)
Explore acidity and what makes substances sour by learning about pH and hydrogen ions and making a butterfly pea flower lemonade.
 
Each Lesson Includes:
Teacher Lesson Plan with Essential Questions, Objectives, and NGSS standards, Lab Preparation (Materials, Ingredients, Amazon Lists when appropriate, and Tips & Tricks) and day-by-day lesson plans
Classroom Slides with directions for lesson flow, turn and talk prompts, illustrations and graphics, embedded videos, and whole group reflection questions
Student Handouts with step-by-step lab directions and other activities
Instructional Lab Videos & "Science Behind" Videos
 
All materials are included in Google Drive folders.