Substitute Lesson Plan: Introduction to Chemistry

Resource: CK-12 Chemistry Workbook — Chapter 1: "The Science of Chemistry Worksheets" (Lessons 1.1–1.5, pages 11–14)

Objective

Students will review and practice the foundational topics that open the course: the scientific method, the history of chemistry, chemistry as a science of materials, matter, and energy — by working through the corresponding worksheets in the CK-12 Chemistry Workbook.

Materials

• CK-12 Chemistry Workbook (printed or digital copies), Chapter 1, pages 11–14
• Pencils/pens
• Notebook paper for the exit ticket
• Whiteboard or chart paper (optional, for listing lesson titles)

Warm-up (~5 min)

1. Write today's five lesson titles on the board (or read them aloud), taken directly from the workbook's Chapter 1 contents:
2. Lesson 1.1 The Scientific Method
3. Lesson 1.2 Chemistry in History
4. Lesson 1.3 Chemistry is a Science of Materials
5. Lesson 1.4 Matter
6. Lesson 1.5 Energy
7. Ask students to jot down, in one sentence each, what they think each title might be about, based only on the title. No wrong answers — this is a prediction warm-up.
8. Call on 2–3 volunteers to share one prediction.

Main Activity (~25 min)

1. Direct students to open the CK-12 Chemistry Workbook to page 11 (Chapter 1).
2. Divide the class into five small groups (or fewer if the class is small), assigning one lesson worksheet to each group:
3. Group 1: Lesson 1.1 The Scientific Method
4. Group 2: Lesson 1.2 Chemistry in History
5. Group 3: Lesson 1.3 Chemistry is a Science of Materials
6. Group 4: Lesson 1.4 Matter
7. Group 5: Lesson 1.5 Energy
8. Instruct each group to complete all questions/problems on their assigned worksheet pages (pp. 11–14) working together, showing their answers on their own paper.
9. Circulate around the room while groups work, making sure every student is engaged with the workbook pages (no content explanation needed — students should be following the workbook's own instructions and questions).
10. With about 8 minutes left in this block, have each group briefly present (1–2 minutes each) the title of their lesson and one worksheet question they answered, to the rest of the class.

Wrap-up / Exit Ticket (~10 min)

1. Pass out a half-sheet of paper (or have students use notebook paper) for an exit ticket.
2. Ask students to answer the following, based on the workbook lessons they worked through today:
3. Write down the five lesson titles covered today, in order (1.1 through 1.5).
4. Choose one of the five lessons and write down one question or fact from that worksheet that you found interesting or want to know more about.
5. Collect exit tickets as students leave.

If Time Remains

Have students trade worksheets with another group and check each other's answers to the workbook questions, using the workbook itself as the reference, and discuss any answers where the two groups disagreed.