Carolina Curriculum: GEMS > Kits for Grades K-5

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Expanded view of the Chemical Reactions Kit

GEMS^® Chemical Reactions (Grades 6–8)

GEMS Chemical Reactions for Grades 6-8 is an exciting and motivating first encounter with chemistry. Chemicals in a resealable bag bubble, change color, and produce gas, heat, and an odor. Watch student excitement build as the plastic bag they hold gets hot and inflates with gas, and its bubbling contents change color while they watch.

During the sessions in this unit, students observe changes and design experiments to explain their observations. They pursue their own experimental plans in exciting, fun, and safe situations. The first session emphasizes the process of observation; the second session involves experimenting and making inferences. In two sessions, students are introduced to the following concepts: evidence of chemical reaction, endothermic and exothermic reactions, conservation of matter, and chemical safety.

Benefits of using this kit:
	Introduces foundational science concepts that lead to student success
	Strongly aligned with multiple state standards and the National Science Education Standards and Bench Marks for Science Literacy
	Provides clear step-by-step instruction, assessment suggestions, literature connections, and ideas for further instruction

Goals Standards In the Kit Pilot this Kit Support

Goals of Chemical Reactions
	Students improve their ability to use a variety of senses to make and describe careful observations.
	Students explain that evidence such as changes in color and the production of a gas, heat, or odor are all clues that chemicals are reacting.
	Students develop appropriate vocabulary to demonstrate their understanding of concepts that relate to chemical reactions. When chemicals (reactants) react, new substances (products) are created. In an exothermic reaction, heat is released. In an endothermic reaction, heat is absorbed.
	Students improve their ability to conduct experiments in which they change only one variable at a time.
	Students improve their ability to draw conclusions and make inference based on evidence.

National Standards addressed by Chemical Reactions:

	Physical Science Standard, 5–8: Properties and changes of properties in matter.
	Earth and Space Science Standard, 5–8: Transfer of energy.
	Inquiry Standard, 5–8: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry.
	Science in Personal and Social Perspectives Standard, 5–8: Populations, Resources, and Environments; Science and Technology in Society.
	Unifying Concepts and Principles: Constancy, change, and measurement; evidence, models, and explanation.

In the Kit:
The unit kit comes with a Teacher's Guide, a Teacher's Pack containing: copy masters, MSDS sheets, matrix of provided materials where used and materials needed but not supplied, and materials needed for a class of 32 students.

Try the Carolina Curriculum Pilot Program
What’s the best way to learn about STC Program®, Building Blocks of Science™, Math Out of the Box®, or GEMS Kits®? Pilot a unit in your school or district!

Here's how it works:

	Complete the pilot information request form.
	You choose a lead teacher(s) to pilot the units.
	Carolina ships the selected unit kit(s) to your school/district.
	At the end of the pilot, you can purchase one of the unit kits for 10% off the catalog price!

Contact our Sales Staff
Carolina’s Curriculum Sales and Services group provides districts and schools that are evaluating curriculum with samples, professional planning, and implementation assistance. Our staff includes in-office curriculum account managers and regional sales managers in the field. Click here to contact the account manager and sales manager for your school district.

Customer Service
All Carolina customers have their own customer service representative, determined by state, to meet their specific needs. Click here for customer service representative contact information.

Technical Support
With Carolina's technical support staff, you have access to knowledgeable professionals with expertise in many areas of the sciences. Call 800-227-1150 (8 am to 5 pm ET) or email curriculum@carolina.com and trained staff will answer your questions about a Carolina Curriculum product or provide additional information.


	Chemical Reactions Kit This Kit comes with a Teacher's Guide, an information packet, and the materials needed for a class of 30.

	Chemical Reactions Kit Teacher's Guide Additional Teacher's Guides are available if you need them.

	Chemical Reactions Kit Refill Pack This set replenishes the consumable materials in the Kit.