Many elementary school curricula call for the presentation of complex scientific phenomena in accurate and meaningful ways. This is an important task of The King's Center for Visualization in Science.
The following six modules are designed to help Grade 5 students understand the nature of scientific models and how a variety of 'good enough' models can be used to understand the particulate nature of matter, physical change, and chemical change. The modules were created by a team including: Dr. Brenda Gustafson (University of Alberta), Dr. Peter Mahaffy (King's University College), Dr. Brian Martin (King's University College), Ms. Shannon Gentilini (Edmonton Public Schools), Ms. Amanda Thompson (King's University College), Ms. Naomi Mahaffy (King's University College), and Mr. David Dykstra (King's University College). Funding for this project from CRYSTAL-Alberta (NSERC) is gratefully acknowledged.
Click on each module image to open or select the "Run Applet" button. Each applet is accompanied by a Teaching Guide (just click on the Teachers Notes menu item).
Grade 5 Chemistry Modules
This applet introduces students to the idea of scientific models. Run Applet
This applet presents students with various "good-enough" models of matter. Run Applet
In this applet students begin to use their "good-enough" models to explain properties of matter. Run Applet
Students are introduced to the concept of physical change and invited to use their "good-enough" models to understand physical change. Run Applet
This applet introduces (again through "good-enough" models) to the concept of chemical change and how this differs from physical change. Run Applet
Now that students can use their models to understand physical and chemical change they are introduced to the idea of evidence for chemical changes. Run Applet
The Elementary Classroom
This is a "stand-alone" applet that is also incorporated into Module Three. The applet is large so download may take a few tens of seconds - please be patient!
