Science Practice: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

Constructing explanations and designing solutions in 9–12 builds on K–8 experiences and progresses to explanations and designs that are supported by multiple and independent student-generated sources of evidence consistent with scientific ideas, principles, and theories.

Summary

Constructing explanations and designing solutions in 9–12 builds on K–8 experiences and progresses to explanations and designs that are supported by multiple and independent student-generated sources of evidence consistent with scientific ideas, principles, and theories. Construct and revise an explanation based on valid and reliable evidence obtained from a variety of sources (including students’ own investigations, models, theories, simulations, peer review) and the assumption that theories and laws that describe the natural world operate today as they did in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

Links

NextGenerationScience.org
Blue Powerade turning green and yellow
Solution to Chemical Mystery #18: Peek A Boo Blue!
// Wednesday, August 18, 2021 • Tom Kuntzleman
In Chemical Mystery #18: Peek A Boo Blue,1 Blue Powerade is observed to change to green, and then to a yellow color. When the yellow-colored solution is disturbed by pouring it, it shifts back to green or blue-green.
white clover and anthoxanthin structure
Clover Color Chemistry
// Saturday, July 3, 2021 • Tom Kuntzleman
Recently as I was mowing my lawn, I noticed that some of the florets on white clover have a slight pink or purple color (Figure 1). Because anthocyanins often impart red, blue, and purple color to plants, fruits, and flowers,1,2 I wondered if these tiny pink florets in white clover contained anthocyanins.
text: Colorful Candy Chemistry
How Does the Rainbow Candy Experiment Work?
// Monday, February 8, 2021 • Tom Kuntzleman
Have you seen the rainbow candy experiment? It's a very simple experiment that involves pouring water into a plate that has M&M's candies or Skittles arranged in a pattern. Very curious shapes of sharply divided regions form spontaneously. How does this happen?! 
What is the pressure in a soda?
What Is the Pressure Inside a Bottle of Soda?
// Tuesday, December 8, 2020 • Tom Kuntzleman
Bottles of soda are sealed under high pressures of CO2, or PCO2. This causes a substantial amount of CO2 to dissolve into the beverage, giving the drink its fizziness. But what exactly is the pressure inside a bottle of soda?
screenshot of the Atomsmith live lab simulation tool
Exploration of Gas Laws Using Atomsmith Online
// Friday, September 11, 2020 • LowellThomson
These activities were originally published in 2018 as a mini-unit on gas laws for IB Chemistry. They have been updated for 2020 since they lend themselves well to an online or flipped format. 
Coke and Mentos Color Changes
Color Changing Coke and Mentos
// Wednesday, September 2, 2020 • Tom Kuntzleman
If you know me, you know that I love the Diet Coke and Mentos reaction. It’s so simple to carry out, but yields incredible results! Just drop a few Mentos candies into a bottle of a carbonated beverage and watch the magic take place! See video 1.
clear plastic sandwich bag with white powder inside
Airbag challenge
// Wednesday, August 12, 2020 • ACCT Admin
In the “Airbag challenge” the students are tasked with developing a safe airbag for a car company. This formative assessment explores students’ thinking about the question “How can chemical changes be controlled?” The central concept in this challenge is the application is stoichiometry.