Teacher Overview: Reaction Quest — The Cavendish Laboratory Mystery
Reaction Quest: The Cavendish Laboratory Mystery is an immersive, standards-based science adventure that introduces elementary students to key concepts in chemistry. Set in the historic Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge, this interactive experience helps students explore the structure of matter, chemical reactions, and the building blocks of substances in a fun and engaging way. As students progress through the online escape-room-style adventure, they will uncover clues, solve challenges, and piece together the secret chemistry code word while applying their understanding of essential vocabulary.
This resource is designed for flexible classroom use and can be completed in one class period. Teachers are provided with everything needed for a complete lesson, including:
-
A downloadable set of standards-aligned vocabulary trading cards (one per featured term)
-
An instructional video that introduces and reinforces core chemistry concepts
-
A structured lesson plan with clear learning objectives
-
Teaching dialogue to help guide class discussion and introduce each subtopic
-
A full answer key for all questions used in the interactive adventure
This experience supports interactive learning and allows students to explore chemistry in an age-appropriate, story-driven format that builds science literacy and excitement.
Student Link:
https://excavatingadventures.com/blogs/adventures/9-reaction-quest
Lesson Plan: Reaction Quest — The Cavendish Laboratory Mystery
Topic: Chemistry
Grade Level: Elementary
Time Required: 1 hour or less
Supplemental Resources Used: Instructional Video, Online Interactive Escape Room, Downloadable Vocabulary Trading Cards
Subtopics Covered:
-
Properties of Matter
-
Atoms, Elements, and Compounds
-
Chemical Reactions and Solutions
Learning Objectives:
-
Students will understand that chemistry is the study of matter and how it changes.
-
Students will identify and describe the basic building blocks of matter, including atoms, elements, and compounds.
-
Students will recognize signs of chemical reactions and how factors like temperature affect them.
-
Students will explain the roles of ions and solutions in chemistry.
-
Students will use standards-based vocabulary to describe scientific concepts and processes accurately.
Materials Needed:
-
Computer or device with internet access for each student or small group
-
Projector or screen for video presentation
-
Printed vocabulary trading cards (optional: laminated or cut out for reuse)
-
Student science notebooks or loose-leaf paper
-
Pencils
Vocabulary Words:
-
Chemistry
-
Element
-
Atom
-
Compound
-
Ion
-
Solution
-
Temperature
-
Neutral
-
Reaction
Instructional Sequence:
1. Introduction (5 minutes)
-
Begin the lesson with a brief discussion: “What do you think chemistry is?”
-
Tell students they will explore a famous laboratory in England through an online adventure to uncover the secret behind chemical reactions.
2. Instructional Video (10 minutes)
-
Play the short instructional video provided.
-
Pause briefly after each major point to emphasize vocabulary terms and allow for quick clarifying questions.
-
Encourage students to jot down unfamiliar words or ideas in their notebooks.
3. Vocabulary Review (5 minutes)
-
Distribute the printed vocabulary trading cards.
-
Quickly review each word and definition together as a class.
-
Have students keep these cards handy during the activity as a reference.
4. Online Escape Room Adventure (35 minutes)
-
Students will complete the interactive online experience Reaction Quest: The Cavendish Laboratory Mystery individually or in pairs.
-
Remind students to use their vocabulary cards to help answer questions as they navigate the adventure.
-
Monitor student progress and assist with technical or comprehension issues if needed.
5. Wrap-Up and Review (5 minutes)
-
Lead a brief class discussion using questions such as:
-
What was your favorite part of the adventure?
-
Which vocabulary word did you find most interesting?
-
What did you learn about how substances change in chemistry?
-
Assessment:
-
Student understanding will be assessed through their participation and success in the online escape room.
-
Optional extension: Ask students to define three vocabulary terms in their own words or draw an example of a reaction they learned about.
Optional Extension Activities:
-
Small group lab stations (e.g., mixing vinegar and baking soda, dissolving salt in water)
-
Interactive notebook foldables using the vocabulary cards
This lesson is designed to spark student interest in chemistry while building a strong foundation in essential concepts and vocabulary, all within a single class session.
Teacher Reference Guide
Reaction Quest: The Cavendish Laboratory Mystery
This lesson introduces students to the foundational principles of chemistry through an engaging and interactive experience. Chemistry is the study of matter and how it changes. Matter is anything that takes up space and has mass, and it is made up of atoms, which are the basic building blocks of all substances. Atoms combine to form elements, which are pure substances made of one type of atom. When different types of atoms bond together, they create compounds, which have unique properties different from the individual elements that make them up.
Students will also learn about ions—charged atoms or molecules that can conduct electricity in solutions—and how solutions form when one substance dissolves into another. For example, when salt dissolves in water, it creates a solution. Temperature plays a key role in chemical reactions, which are changes that form new substances. Reactions can produce heat, fizzing, color changes, or light. Students will also explore the concept of neutral substances, which are neither acidic nor basic, with water being a common example.
This lesson emphasizes three main subtopics: the properties of matter, the structure and interaction of atoms and compounds, and chemical reactions and their influencing factors. To help students understand and retain these concepts, the class will begin with a short instructional video, followed by the use of vocabulary trading cards that define and reinforce the scientific terms introduced in the lesson. The core learning experience is the interactive online adventure, Reaction Quest: The Cavendish Laboratory Mystery, where students will apply what they’ve learned to unlock clues and solve chemistry-based challenges. The vocabulary cards should remain with students throughout the activity as a reference tool, and teachers can use them to lead a brief review at the end of the lesson. This lesson is designed to be completed in one hour or less and uses only the video, trading cards, and online escape room as supplemental resources.
Answer Sheet: Reaction Quest — The Cavendish Laboratory Mystery
Question: What science studies matter and how it changes?
Answer: Chemistry
Question: What is a pure substance made of one atom type?
Answer: Element
Question: What is the basic building block of matter?
Answer: Atom
Question: What forms when different atoms bond together?
Answer: Compound
Question: What do we call a charged atom or molecule?
Answer: Ion
Question: What do we call a mixture where something is dissolved?
Answer: Solution
Question: What factor affects the speed of chemical reactions?
Answer: Temperature
Question: What do we call a substance that is neither acidic nor basic?
Answer: Neutral
Final Question: What do we call a change that forms new substances?
Answer: Reaction