Planning & Materials
For this lesson, you’ll prep 7 experiments that will explore chemistry concepts like mixtures, solutions, emulsions, reactions, and precipitates. One of the experiments needs to be heated up, so you’ll want to have a microwave or a stove and pot handy.
Activity durations vary based on learning pace, depth of exploration, and potential side quests. The following are approximate times for planning:
| Lesson Section | Approximate Time |
|---|---|
| Discussion | 10 minutes |
| Video | Combining Particles | 5 minutes |
| Video | Separating Particles | 5 minutes |
| Experiment | Separate Sand, Salt, and Iron | 45 minutes + waiting time + questions and journal time |
| Experiment | What is Magnetic? | 25 minutes + questions and journal time |
| Experiment | Filtering a Suspension | 25 minutes + waiting time + questions and journal time |
| Experiment | How Does Soap Work? | 15 minutes + questions and journal time |
| Experiment | Reaction 1: Fizz | 10 minutes + questions and journal time |
| Experiment | Reaction 2: Precipitates | 35 minutes + waiting time + questions and journal time |
| Experiment | Hydrophobic Hot Cocoa | 10 minutes + questions and journal time |
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Baking soda | 1 tsp (5 mL) |
| Cheese cloth | 1 |
| Cocoa powder | 1 tsp (5 mL) |
| Container with lid or Petri dish | 1 |
| Containers (safe for hot liquids) | 2 |
| Containers with lids or test tubes with caps | 3 |
| Cups or beakers | 3 |
| Dairy milk | 2 cups (500 mL) |
| Filter paper or coffee filter | 4 |
| Iron filings | 1 tsp (5 mL) |
| Liquid dish soap | 1 tsp (5 mL) |
| Magnet (in plastic bag) | 1 |
| Magnifying glass | 1 |
| Metal objects (paperclip, magnetic marbles, etc.) | 2-10 |
| Non-metal objects (toothpick, balloon, etc.) | 2-10 |
| Oil | 2 tsp (10 mL) |
| Powdered chalk | 1 tsp (5 mL) |
| Rubber band | 1 |
| Salt | 2 tsp (10 mL) |
| Sand | 2 tsp (10 mL) |
| Spoon | 1 |
| Toothpick | 1 |
| Tweezers | 1 |
| Vinegar | 8 tsp (40 mL) |
| Water | 3 cups (700 mL) |
| Optional: Colored markers | Variety |
| Optional: Funnel (if using test tubes) | 1 |
| Optional: Pipette or dropper (if using test tubes) | 1 |
| Optional: Test tube holder (if using test tubes) | 1 |