Activity Introduction
This lesson introduces the idea of acids and bases, using the context and framing of tooth decay. It offers a fun new hook into a very familiar, traditional part of the curriculum.
Students will come to understand how acids and bases work, but also learn about how it relates to the science of cavities, giving that knowledge an immediate and personal relevance in their everyday lives. The lesson ends with an opportunity for students to reflect on their learning; this learning in turn feeds into the science communication in the final lesson in this unit, Communicating the Science of Tooth Decay.
- Students understand and describe the properties of acids and bases
- Students recognise the role hydrogen ions play in the acidic, neutral or alkaline properties of a substance
- Students understand the pH scale and how to use it to determine a substance’s acidity or alkalinity
- Students understand how tooth decay happens and what they can do to prevent or minimise it.
- Topic: Consumption.
- This lesson is part of the wider unit of work SugarByHalf – Science – Years 9-10.
- Time required: 55 mins.
- Level of teacher scaffolding: Low – As an introduction to the sequence of lessons on this topic, there will be more explicit teaching of concepts required in order to bring students up to speed on the science behind pH before some of the application material is presented.
- Keywords: acid, base, alkaline, pH, ion, hydrogen, electron, proton, teeth, tooth decay, cavities, Australian Dental Association, SugarByHalf.
To view our Australian Curriculum alignment click here.
To view our NZ Curriculum alignment click here.
Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian and New Zealand Curriculums.
- Data projector
- pH chart
These lessons were developed in partnership with SugarByHalf and the Australian Dental Association.
