American Chemical Society
Defining Dissolving
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.
American Chemical Society
Dissolving a Substance in Different Liquids
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...
American Chemical Society
M&M's in Different Sugar Solutions
To conclude a mini unit on the dissolving of M&Ms® candy coating, this lesson plan investigates whether or not the concentration of sugar in the solvent affects the dissolving rate. Consider having older science learners write their...
American Chemical Society
Does Temperature Affect Dissolving?
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...
American Chemical Society
Mysterious M&M's
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 introduce...
Curated OER
One Sweet Experiment
This resource is designed to be used as a lab sheet when experimenting with the dissolution of sugar in water. It's very nice in that it follows the scientific method of experimentation. There are places for the definition of the...
Curated OER
Investigating the Change
Sugar crystal growth is observed as an example of physical change and cabbage juice pH indicator is used to demonstrate chemical change. The crystal growth is tracked over five days. The cabbage juice experiment is involved and can also...
Curated OER
"I'm Melting!"
Third and fourth graders engage with a worksheet designed to help them differentiate between melting and dissolving. After reading an informative paragraph about the two actions, they consider four scenarios, and choose whether they...
Teaching Ideas
Investigation Prompts
Get your class started with experimentation and investigation by providing sentence starters. This chart is made up of three columns. The first column lists steps of the scientific process and the second provides sentence starters for...
Curated OER
A Sweet Drink
Students investigate reaction rates. For 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 cube. Studetns determin...
American Chemical Society
A Dissolving Challenge
After collecting carbon dioxide bubbles from a cup of club soda, learners attempt to make their own lemon soda while preventing the loss of carbonation. They do so by creating a syrup before mixing the substances into the club soda....
American Chemical Society
Solubility Test
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...
Cornell University
Energy Changes in Chemical Reactions
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...
LABScI
Freezing Point Depression: Why Don’t Oceans Freeze?
Can you go ice fishing in the ocean? Learners examine the freezing point of different saltwater solutions. Each solution has a different concentration of salt. By comparing the freezing points graphically, they make conclusions about...
Curated OER
All Mixed Up!
What happens when solids are added to liquids? After reading an informative paragraph about solutions, learners answer six true/false questions regarding solutions, and what substances will dissolve into liquids they are mixed with. A...
Curated OER
Weathering Lab
Assist your middle school class with one of the most inclusive weathering and erosion labs available. Individuals use sugar cubes and alka-seltzer to demonstrate the process of physical and chemical weathering. They sketch results...
Curated OER
Factors that Affect Reaction Rates
Collaborating chemistry pupils observe that temperatrue increases the movement of dye throughout water, stirring increases the dissolving rate of sugar cubes, and concentration of solutions increases the chemical reaction rates. These...
Curated OER
Reversible/Irreversible changes
Students observe an online activity where they see some solids dissolving and some not dissolving. In this dissolving lesson plan, students learn which solids will dissolve, melt, and which won't. They will also see which effects are...
Curated OER
Sink or Swim
Students explore sinking and floating. In this buoyancy lesson plan, students conduct an investigation dealing with regular and diet soda. Students drop various soda cans into water and then discuss why some float and some sink.
Curated OER
Ziplock Chemistry
Learners investigate various chemical reactions when creating mixtures in ziplock baggies. In this chemistry lesson plan, students will recognize various chemical reactions and cite evidence. Safety and assessment strategies are included...
Curated OER
Rock Formation
Students investigate rock formation through cementation, compaction and evaporation. In this rock formation lesson plan, students simulate the process of evaporation, cementation and compaction in the lab. Students explain the formation...
Curated OER
Rate of Solubility
Students investigate factors affecting the rate of solubility. In this rate of solubility lesson plan, students experiment by crushing, heating and cooling solutes and solvents to see how the solubility is affected. For each situation,...
Curated OER
We All Scream for Ice Cream
Students investigate the freezing point depression of water while making ice cream. In this colligative properties lesson plan, students make ice cream using ice, salt and water to freeze milk and sugar. They measure the temperature of...
Curated OER
Planets in a Bottle
Learners experiment with yeast. In this environmental conditions lesson students test the viability of samples of yeast. Learners investigate the effects of environmental conditions on the yeast.