Acids and Bases Lesson Note for Primary 5 Third Term Week 2
Basic Science Lesson Note
Class: Primary 5
Term: Third Term
Week: 2
Age: 9–10 years
Subject: Basic Science
Topic: Acids and Bases
Sub-topic: Meaning, Properties, and Common Examples of Acids and Bases
Duration: 40 minutes
Behavioural Objectives:
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
Define acids and bases.
List examples of acids and bases.
State the properties of acids and bases.
Identify common acidic and basic household substances.
Demonstrate how to test acids and bases using natural indicators.
Keywords:
Acid, Base, Bitter, Sour, Litmus paper, Neutral, Properties, Taste, Household substances, Indicators.
Set Induction (Introduction):
The teacher brings a lemon and a bar of soap to class and asks the pupils to describe the taste of lemon and the feel of soap. This sparks curiosity about the different nature of substances we use daily.
Entry Behaviour:
Pupils can mention various food items and cleaning substances they have used at home.
Learning Resources and Materials:
Lemon juice
Vinegar
Soap solution
Water
Litmus papers (red and blue)
Tumeric water (natural indicator)
Chart showing examples of acids and bases
Whiteboard and marker
Building Background / Connection to Prior Knowledge:
Pupils have already learned about liquids and their characteristics in previous terms and know that different substances have different tastes and reactions.
Embedded Core Skills:
Observation
Experimentation
Communication
Critical Thinking
Content of the Lesson:
Meaning of Acids:
Acids are substances that have a sour taste.
They turn blue litmus paper red.
Acids are found in some foods and household products.
Examples of acids:
Lemon juice
Vinegar
Orange juice
Tomato
Pineapple juice
Battery acid
Carbonated drinks (e.g. Pepsi, Coke)
Meaning of Bases:
Bases are substances that have a bitter taste and slippery feel.
They turn red litmus paper blue.
Bases are common in cleaning products.
Examples of bases:
Soap
Baking soda
Toothpaste
Ash
Caustic soda
Detergent
Bleach
Properties of Acids:
Sour taste
Turns blue litmus paper red
Found in fruits and drinks
Corrosive (strong acids)
React with bases to form water and salt
Properties of Bases:
Bitter taste
Slippery feel
Turns red litmus paper blue
React with acids to form water and salt
Can be harmful in concentrated forms
Simple Class Experiment:
Objective: To test substances using litmus paper.
Materials:
Lemon juice
Soap solution
Red and blue litmus papers
Procedure:
Dip blue litmus paper into lemon juice — it turns red.
Dip red litmus paper into soap solution — it turns blue.
Conclusion: Acids turn blue litmus paper red while bases turn red litmus paper blue.
Class Activity Discussion (10 FAQs with Answers)
What is an acid?
A substance with a sour taste that turns blue litmus paper red.Name two examples of acids.
Lemon juice, Vinegar.What is a base?
A substance with a bitter taste and slippery feel that turns red litmus paper blue.Give two examples of bases.
Soap, Toothpaste.What is a property of acids?
They taste sour.What is a property of bases?
They taste bitter.What happens when you put blue litmus paper in acid?
It turns red.What happens when you put red litmus paper in a base?
It turns blue.Name one fruit that is acidic.
Orange.Mention a household cleaning product that is basic.
Detergent.
Teacher’s and Learners’ Activities
Teacher’s Activities:
Explains the meaning of acids and bases.
Lists examples and demonstrates their properties.
Guides pupils through simple litmus paper experiments.
Learners’ Activities:
Listen attentively.
Participate in class discussions.
Observe the demonstration.
Answer questions.
Perform the test with teacher’s guidance.
Evaluation Questions (10 fill-in-the-gap questions with options)
Substances with a sour taste are called _______.
a) Bases b) Acids c) Salts d) WatersLemon juice is an example of a(n) _______.
a) Acid b) Base c) Neutral substance d) SolidAcids turn _______ litmus paper red.
a) Red b) Blue c) White d) YellowSubstances with a bitter taste are called _______.
a) Acids b) Bases c) Waters d) LiquidsSoap solution turns _______ litmus paper blue.
a) Red b) Blue c) White d) GreenToothpaste is an example of a _______.
a) Base b) Acid c) Salt d) GasThe substance that turns blue litmus paper red is called _______.
a) Base b) Salt c) Acid d) WaterSubstances that feel slippery are known as _______.
a) Acids b) Bases c) Gases d) Liquids_______ is a fruit that contains acid.
a) Orange b) Soap c) Toothpaste d) SaltWhich of these is a property of bases?
a) Bitter taste b) Sour taste c) Sweet taste d) No taste
Answer Key:
b 2. a 3. b 4. b 5. a 6. a 7. c 8. b 9. a 10. a
Conclusion:
The teacher revises the lesson, goes around to mark pupils’ work, corrects mistakes, and provides feedback.