Did you know that if you wait long enough, the M on the outside of an M and M will float to the surface when submerged in water? Learners observe the sugar coating of an M and M while it is dissolving in water. They explain how this...

When making sweet tea, why do people dissolve the sugar in hot tea instead of cold tea? The class discusses the previous lab and builds upon it. Working in groups, they design an experiment to determine how temperature affects the...

Physical science investigators mix sugar and food coloring into different cups of water and cooking oil to compare how the solid and liquid behave in each. As the introduction to this unit on dissolving, it is relevant.

Second of six lessons in a unit on dissolving, this one focuses on how sugar behaves in different liquids. Learners stir it into water, alcohol, and oil and make observations. This lesson can stand alone, but is best used as part of the...

To conclude a mini unit on the dissolving of M&Ms® candy coating, this lesson investigates whether or not the concentration of sugar in the solvent affects the dissolving rate. Consider having older science learners write their own...

Here's a sweet lesson to explore solutes and solvents. Using candies and water, learners observe properties of parts of the solution as the candies dissolve. They then modify the setup and note variations in the solution. 

There is a solvent called aqua regis that can dissolve gold! After observing a solubility demonstration, groups receive four known crystals and one unknown. Based on the demo, they design an experiment to determine the identity of the...

The first in a six-lesson mini unit, all using M&Ms® candies, this physical science activity gets kids to observe a single piece and discover what happens when it is placed in a plate of water. The activity can be used to...

Make sure to consult the teacher's handbook, Inquiry in Action - Investigating Matter Through Inquiry, for two demonstrations that can be done to introduce solubility and measuring crystal mass before having the class conduct this...

Where does the pop in pop rocks come from? An engaging activity asks scholars to measure the amount of carbon dioxide in a package of Pop Rocks candy. Learners dissolve the candy in water and use the solubility of CO2 to determine its mass.

The heat of solution measures how much thermal energy a dissolving substance consumes or gives off. The experiment demonstrates both endothermic and exothermic reactions. Scholars dissolve several substances, measure the temperature...

Ninth graders conduct research on the subject of sea water. They use a variety of resources to obtain information. There are helpful resource links listed in the lesson. In conjunction with the research students make inquiry of the...

Students predict and test different variables that would effect sugar cubes dissolving in water. In this dissolving lesson plan, students have 4 petri dishes with 4 different variations of sugar cubes and water. They predict which will...

Fourth graders observe and demonstrate the physical change of dissolving sugar in water and evaporating the water to examine the physical change that has occurred. They discuss physical changes and solutions, and make rock candy,...

Students create sinkholes and learn about the formation of sinkholes by using water, a foam cup, sugar, sand, and a sponge. In this sinkholes lesson plan, students also answer short answer questions.

Students investigate the properties of water. In this chemistry of water lesson plan, students observe a demonstration of the properties of water using sand, sugar, oil, vinegar and salad dressing. Students experiment with water, pepper,...

Learners explore mechanical and chemical weathering at stations. They articulate some mechanisms of chemical and mechanical weathering through exploration in a lab. Students stations describe how chemical weathering differs from...

Students conduct experiments with plants.  In this photosynthesis lesson, students examine plants under different types of lights.  They calculate the amount of dissolved ocygen concentration and compare it to the formula for...

Young scholars investigate reaction rates.  In this seventh or eighth grade mathematics lesson, students collect, record, and analyze data regarding how the temperature of water affects the dissolving time of a sugar...

There are three separate lessons within this resource that can be used together, or that can each stand alone. In the first, five simple activities allow junior scientists to examine the amazing properties of water. In the second, they...

Students observe what happens when sugar is dissolved in water and when it is heated. They weigh the products after each of the two experiments on a balance scale. Pupils distinguish between physical and chemical changes. Students are...

Seventh graders study biological systems and how they reach equilibrium.  In this system balance lesson students divide into groups and complete an osmosis lab activity.

Students experiment with yeast. In this environmental conditions lesson students test the viability of samples of yeast. Students investigate the effects of environmental conditions on the yeast.

Students examine the effects of salt on ice. In this salt lesson, students observe what happens to the temperature of ice when salt is added, then make ice cream to see how this knowledge can be used.