Chemical Reactions
  • Students use both a wet lab and LEGO bricks to understand how chemicals react
    Students use both a wet lab and LEGO bricks to understand how chemicals react

ABOUT THE CHEMICAL REACTIONS LESSON

This lesson is appropriate for children ages 11 and up. Students are introduced to atoms, molecules, compounds, and mixtures, using LEGO® bricks as atoms. In an engaging hands-on wet lab, students experience a chemical reaction and then model the same reaction with LEGO bricks. This lesson is also offered as a 3-hour academic field trip LEGO Chemistry at the Edgerton Center. 

Download the Molecule Sets Overview or read the Rationale for using LEGO bricks as atoms.

MOLECULE SET MATERIALS

We are no longer able to sell Molecule Sets, unfortunately. Please visit our Information for Edgerton Center Molecule Sets webpage that describes how to put your own set together.

The following LEGO bricks are the minimum required (per kit/2 students) for the Chemical Reactions Lesson:

  • 6 red 2x4
  • 2 pink 2x4
  • 2 light green 2x4
  • 2 black 2x4
  • 1 green 2x4
  • 4 white 1x2

 

Chemical Reactions Mats (per kit/2 students):

TEACHING THE CHEMICAL REACTIONS LESSON

Co-Teaching Video from BLOSSOMS:

 

Teacher Guides and Resources:

 

MIT Edgerton Molecule videos on our YouTube channel:

     

    CURRICULUM STANDARDS

    This lesson meets the following items of the Massachusetts State Frameworks for grades 6-8, Physical Sciences Strand: Elements, Compounds & Mixtures:

    5. Recognize that there are more than 100 elements that combine in a multitude of ways to produce compounds that make up all of the living and nonliving things that we encounter.

    6. Differentiate between an atom (the smallest unit of an element that maintains the characteristics of that element) and a molecule (the smallest unit of a compound that maintains the characteristics of that compound).

    7. Give basic examples of elements and compounds.

    8. Differentiate between mixtures and pure substances.

    10. Differentiate between physical changes and chemical changes.

     

      ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

      Document Versions prior to June 2012:

       

      LEGO®, the LEGO logo, and the brick and knob configurations are trademarks of the LEGO group, used here with permission. ©MIT. All rights reserved.