Engage your students with this NO PREP, real-world science WHODUNNIT investigation focused on chemical change, rusting, and corrosion.

In this structured investigation, students examine real-world conditions, analyze data tables, evaluate the effects of moisture and salt, eliminate possible causes, and construct a scientific explanation to determine what led to the corrosion of a bike rack.

"On Monday morning, students arriving at school noticed something strange near the outdoor bike rack beside the science wing. One of the metal support bars had developed a rough, reddish-brown coating near its base. Just a few days earlier, the rack had appeared smooth, clean, and metallic silver." Your students must use clues and evidence to determine - Who or what is responsible for the rust forming on the bike rack.

Rather than passively learning about rusting, students actively interpret evidence, recognize patterns, and apply scientific reasoning to understand how iron reacts with oxygen and water—and why certain conditions speed up the process. This activity makes chemistry concepts meaningful while building critical thinking, collaboration, and writing skills.

✅ NO PREP, ready to use

No materials, no setup, no stress. Just print or assign digitally and go. Everything students need is included—from the reading to the final CER response.

What Students Will Learn

• How rusting is a chemical change
• How iron reacts with oxygen and water to form rust
• Why water is required for rusting to occur
• How oxygen in the air contributes to corrosion
• How salt speeds up the rusting process
• How environmental conditions affect the rate of chemical reactions
• How protective coatings help prevent rust
• How moisture levels influence chemical changes on metal surfaces
• How to analyze real-world data to identify cause-and-effect relationships
• How to use Claim–Evidence–Reasoning (CER) to explain scientific phenomena

This activity combines chemistry, real-world problem solving, data analysis, and scientific writing into one structured investigation that keeps students actively engaged from start to finish.

What’s Included

• A complete student investigation with reading, data tables, and guided questions
• A structured suspect elimination process to support logical reasoning
• A collaborative group role system to increase participation and accountability
• A full teacher answer key with completed tables and CER sample responses
• Extension activities for deeper learning and real-world connections

Why Teachers Love This Resource

• Fully structured and print-and-go – no prep required
• High student engagement through real-world problem solving
• Builds critical thinking and data analysis skills
• Strengthens CER writing and scientific explanation
• Encourages meaningful collaboration and discussion
• Flexible for different classroom formats and pacing

Time Required

• 1 class period (45–60 minutes)
• Can be extended into a 2-day investigation with discussion and extension activities

Google Classroom and Distance Learning Ready

• This resource is perfect for in-class or distance learning and integrates seamlessly with Google Classroom.
• It automatically creates a copy of the reading and places it directly into your Google Drive with a single click.
• Purchase → Open → Click → Assign to your students
• The reading also includes a Microsoft Word and PDF version.
• Having all three options allows you to assign the activity without worrying about formatting issues, and ensures access for all students regardless of device or learning environment.

No prep, no formatting, no issues. Simply download, print (or upload), and you're all set.

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If you have any questions please feel free to send me an email - devon@teachwithfergy.com