Mixtures & Solutions
Investigation 3
Part 3
Mystery Solutions
Students are given three mystery solutions and then plan and carry out an experiment to determine the concentration of each solution by comparing the masses of each.
3. Lesson set up and Management
Questioning (IN01 2.1.1)
- Ask questions about objects, organisms, and events in the environment. Grades K, 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5.
- Generate questions that can be answered through scientific investigations. Grades 6, 7, & 8
Planning and Conducting Investigations (IN02 2.1.2)
- Plan and conduct simple investigations, using appropriate tools, measures, and safety rules. Grades K, 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5.
- Plan, conduct, and evaluate scientific investigations, using appropriate equipment, mathematics, and safety procedures. Grades 6, 7, & 8.
Explaining (IN02 2.1.3)
- Use data to construct reasonable explanations. Grades K, 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5.
- Use evidence from scientific investigations to think critically and logically to develop descriptions, explanations, and predictions. Grades 6, 7, & 8.
- Scientific process can be used to discover the answers to new questions.
- Mass can be used to determine concentration.
3. Lesson set up and Management
Materials:
Prepare the mystery solutions ahead of time. The label, rather than the food color, makes this more like previous experiments. Put the solutions into a container that students can get their syringes into. Try and have two stations set up to reduce line time. For a large class, you may need to double the amount of mystery solution to allow for retesting and spillage.
Student Management:
Write the plan on the board so as students are working, they can check to see when they need to have you approve their work before going on.
Ask step one's question, and have a class discussion on how students would determine concentration.
Let students write out their steps as a group. Groups need to have you check their plan before gathering their materials. This is a great assessment time to see if students understand the concepts and if they can write out a plan. Check again as students are weighing to assess their skills in conducting their plans.
This is a great lesson to assess students' understanding of concepts, and the connections to what they have learned in these three investigations. Through higher-level questions, you can assess their knowledge of mixtures and solutions, saturation and concentration, as well as how they apply the scientific process to this particular task.
Writing Support:
Have each student write out what he or she did as a procedure and then include a conclusion that will describe what he or she found through this process.
Reading Support:
In the Mixtures and Solutions: Science Stories book , read the section "The Air You Breathe".