Physical and Chemical Properties – Lab Station Activity

Distinguish a physical property from a chemical property and a physical change from a chemical change.

Identify and describe the four states of matter, including researching the lesser-known fourth state.

Explain, using evidence, why complete versus incomplete combustion produces different products.

Construct original multiple-choice, true/false, and short-answer questions about physical and chemical properties.

Print the station cards, passport (one per group), and the Applicability Reading, Learn From the Expert, and Test Your Knowledge documents, then place each supporting document at its matching numbered station, as the teacher reference sheet instructs (page 19).

Form 9 groups so each starts at a different station, with 2 groups beginning at a rest station if the class is large enough for all 9 stations to run at once (page 19).

Give each group 6-7 minutes per station and use stations 4 and 8 as built-in rest stops for groups to catch up on unfinished passport work.

Physical vs. chemical property identification — students sketch an object and list 5 physical properties at Station 1, then apply the distinction throughout the passport (pages 1, 10).

Independent research — students research and describe the properties of the fourth state of matter at Station 2 (page 2).

Evidence-based argumentation — students write a paragraph opinion on the state of matter of clouds without using a device at Station 3 (page 3).

Question design — students write 2 multiple-choice, 2 true/false, and 1 short-answer question of their own with answers at Station 9 (page 9).