Grade 7 Unit 2 The Wonder of Chemistry
In this unit, your child explores the living story of chemistry through hands-on demonstrations, history, and artful reflection. Rather than memorizing formulas, students learn directly from observation—watching substances burn, combine, dissolve, and transform—then drawing their own conclusions. This phenomenological approach brings science to life, nurturing curiosity, wonder, and critical thinking.
They will:
- Explore combustion, observing how fire transforms substances and connects to human history and myth (Buddha’s Fire Sermon, Prometheus and the gift of fire).
- Investigate salt formation, acids, and bases using natural pH indicators, household substances, and demonstrations such as baking soda and vinegar reactions.
- Study solutions and solvents, learning how water dissolves, carries, and deposits elements across the earth and within the human body.
- Discover the periodic table and chemical elements, recording names and symbols of common elements in their portfolio.
- Make connections to history and philosophy, meeting thinkers like Heraclitus and Thales while reflecting on humanity’s search to understand matter.
- Strengthen creative and critical thinking by recording experiments, painting images of fire and water, and creating diagrams of acids, bases, and solutions.
- Complete an independent project in the final week, choosing an area of chemistry that sparks their curiosity and presenting it in their own way.
Children see chemistry as part of the living world around them—not abstract formulas, but fire, water, salt, and transformation. They gain a sense of belonging in the human story of discovery while practicing the patience, observation, and imagination that science requires.
This purchase includes one digital curriculum unit with 15 days of lesson plans and 5 days of flexible projects. This unit will inspire you with beautiful images, clear instructions and exciting project ideas.
And that's not all. You will also gain access to the Wonder Hub, which includes supporting documents, videos, resources, and community.
The Wonder of Chemistry
Learning Standards
Concept: Elements consist of one type of atom, and compounds consist of atoms of different elements chemically combined.Connections: In the first week, your child will unravel the mysteries of the periodic table, learning how elements, each with a unique type of atom, combine to form the compounds that make up everything around us. The second week dives into the fascinating world of acids and bases, demonstrating the incredible reactions that occur when elements combine. By the third week, your child will start seeing these chemical combinations in action all around them, bringing the concepts they've learned to life. Finally, in the fourth week, your child will embark on an independent exploration, delving into topics like combustion, salt formation, solutions, and solvents—following their interests and creating a project that showcases their newfound knowledge, all of which are practical and applicable to their daily lives.
Language Arts:
Concept: Questioning what we hear, read, and view contributes to our ability to be educated and engaged citizens.
Connections: Your child can reflect on past knowledge as they prepare to learn through demonstrations, enhancing their understanding of the subject and fostering their critical thinking skills. Your child will work on their own interests and prepare a presentation of their work, a task that will boost their confidence and presentation skills.