Gold Seal Lesson:
Sunshine Valley Fruit Product

Copernicus Education Gateway

Subject:

Science

Grade:

9-12

ICLE Standards:

Science as Inquiry: Develop abilities of scientific inquiry.

Physical Science: Develop an understanding of chemical reaction.

Performance Task:

In this task you will investigate acid-base interactions with an indicator. You will produce a data table and use graphic analysis to make conclusions. Work in groups of three or four students. Several fruit growers in the Sunshine Valley have been advertising acid levels of their fruit produce. 

Assuming the role of FDA chemists, test samples of these five citrus fruits to see which growers can continue to advertise the highest acid levels: oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits and tangerines. Follow the procedures below to conduct your inquiry.

1. Produce a red cabbage indicator by hot water extraction, and then test your indicator with vinegar (acid) and ammonia cleaner (base).
2. Establishing the control of 5-10 drops of fruit juice per test, change the indicator to acid (pink) color.
3. Determine the number of drops of dilute ammonia cleaner required to change the indicator to base (green) color.
4. Make a data table of your results
5. Construct a graphic display of the data in your table

After completing your inquiry, discuss as a group conclusions that you can make. Prepare an oral presentation by the group to be made to the entire class. Include at least one visual in your presentation. Be prepared to interact with the class during your presentation. The class will be asked to evaluate your inquiry and oral presentation.

Knowledge / Skills:

Make observations of the local environment using senses and instruments. Inferences and interpretations are arrived at based on observations. Classify observable properties and organize observations in a meaningful and logical way.  (s5)

Exhibit good data management skills by collecting, organizing, and graphing data.  (s19)

Know the concepts and theories of acids and bases including pH and alkalinity.  (s36)

Participate, sometimes leading, in group meetings by contributing, taking turns speaking, and working toward a common goal.  (ela20)

Understand and use graphs, charts, and visuals to enhance informational writing.  (ela29)

Rubric:

4 Points  =  Students independently complete entire task. Data tables and graphs are accurately constructed and correctly labeled. Conclusion is based on data and graphs. Students demonstrate ability to develop and carry out a scientific inquiry and to derive meaning from observations and data. They demonstrate an ability to work as a team.

3 Points  =  Students need some assistance to complete the entire task. Data tables and graphs are accurately constructed and correctly labeled. Conclusion is based on data and graphs. Students demonstrate some difficulty developing and carrying out a scientific inquiry. They need coaching to derive meaning from observations and data. Students demonstrate limited ability to work as a team.

2 Points  =  Students needs much assistance to complete the task. Data tables and graphs are incomplete and/or incorrectly labeled. Students demonstrate a lack of good data collecting skill. They only show limited ability to develop and carry out a scientific inquiry. Students work more as individuals than as a team and conclusion is written by one person. The conclusion is not based on observations and data.

1 Point  =  Students do not complete the task. Data tables and graphs are incomplete and poorly constructed. Students do not have an understanding of how to develop and carry out a scientific inquiry. They are unable to develop an experiment from which meaningful data can be obtained. No significant conclusion is made by the students and they demonstrate a lack of ability to work as a team.

Keywords:

CHEMISTRY
ACIDS
BASES
LAB EXPERIMENTS
DATA COLLECTION
DATA DISPLAY
ORAL PRESENTATION                 
EARTH SCIENCE
SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY

Grades:

Kg [] - 1 [] - 2 [] - 3 [] - 4 [] - 5 [] - 6 [] - 7 [] - 8 [] - 9 [X] - 10 [X] - 11 [X] - 12 [X]

ICLE Application:

D

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