Dissolving Is a Property

Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Subject Area

Science

Grade(s)

2, 5

Overview

In this lesson, students will develop an understanding that whether and how much a substance dissolves (solubility) is a property of that substance. Students will be able to plan and carry out an investigation to compare the solubility of two substances.    

Students develop a test to compare how the candy coating from an M&M and a Skittle dissolve in water. Students put an M&M and a Skittle in the same amount of water at the same temperature at the same time. Students will also see that the inside of the Skittles dissolves but the inside of the M&M does not. Students see an animation to help explain why the inside of the Skittles dissolves but the inside of the M&M does not.

Science (2015) Grade(s): 2

SC15.2.1

Conduct an investigation to describe and classify various substances according to physical properties (e.g., milk being a liquid, not clear in color, assuming shape of its container, mixing with water; mineral oil being a liquid, clear in color, taking shape of its container, floating in water; a brick being a solid, not clear in color, rough in texture, not taking the shape of its container, sinking in water).

UP:SC15.2.1

Vocabulary

  • Solid
  • Liquid
  • Physical Properties
  • Investigate
  • Classify
  • Opaque
  • Transparent
  • Translucent
  • Rough
  • Smooth
  • Float
  • Sink
  • Shape
  • Various
  • Substances
  • Conduct
  • Describe

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Different kinds of matter exists.
  • Properties of both solids (opaque, transparent, translucent, rough, smooth, float, sink, has its own shape) and liquids (color, assumes shape of container, opaque, transparent, translucent).
  • Many types of matter can be either solid or liquid, depending on temperature.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Plan and conduct an investigation to produce data that is used to describe and classify substances according to physical properties.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Observable patterns in the properties of materials provide evidence to classify the different kinds of materials.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Planning and Carrying out Investigations

Crosscutting Concepts

Patterns
Science (2015) Grade(s): 5

SC15.5.3

Examine matter through observations and measurements to identify materials (e.g., powders, metals, minerals, liquids) based on their properties (e.g., color, hardness, reflectivity, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, response to magnetic forces, solubility, density).

UP:SC15.5.3

Vocabulary

  • color
  • hardness
  • reflectivity
  • electrical conductivity
  • thermal conductivity
  • response to magnetic forces
  • solubility
  • density
  • measurement (quantitative and qualitative)
  • data
  • observable properties
  • standard units
  • conductors
  • nonconductors
  • magnetic
  • nonmagnetic

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Materials have different properties-color, hardness, reflectivity, electrical conductivity thermal conductivity, solubility, and density.
  • Measurements of a variety of properties can be used to identify materials.
  • Measurements should be made in standard units (e.g., grams & liters).

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Identify the phenomenon through observations about materials, including color, hardness, reflectivity, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, response to magnetic forces, and solubility.
  • Identify the evidence and collect data about the observed objects in standard units (e.g., grams, liters).
  • Collaboratively plan the investigation.
  • Identify materials based on their properties.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Standard units are used to measure and describe physical quantities of materials such as weight, time, temperature, and volume. These measurements will assist in the identification of the materials ( e.g. powders, metals, minerals, and liquids).

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Planning and Carrying out Investigations

Crosscutting Concepts

Scale, Proportion, and Quantity

CR Resource Type

Lesson/Unit Plan

Resource Provider

American Chemical Society

License Type

Custom
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