Overview

During these lessons’ students will learn about identifying the properties of mixtures in order to select the most appropriate way to separate their components, and apply this knowledge to build their own water filter.  

Students are learning to:

• know the difference between elements, compounds and mixtures  

• understand the components and properties of solutions 

• select appropriate ways to separate mixtures   

• be able conduct a scientific investigation to purify water.

Success criteria

• I understand the difference and similarities between elements compounds and mixtures.   

• I can discuss common solutions found around my home and classify their components as either a solute or a solvent. 

• I can identify aqueous solutions.

• I can follow a sequence of instructions to undertake an investigation.

Outcomes

• SC4-4WS  identifies questions and problems that can be tested or researched and makes predictions based on scientific knowledge 

• SC4-5WS collaboratively and individually produces a plan to investigate questions and problems 

• SC4-6WS follows a sequence of instructions to safely undertake a range of investigation types, collaboratively and individually 

• SC4-7WS processes and analyses data from a first-hand investigation and secondary sources to identify trends, patterns and relationships, and draw conclusions 

• SC4-8WS selects and uses appropriate strategies, understanding and skills to produce creative and plausible solutions to identified problems 

• SC4-9WS presents science ideas, findings and information to a given audience using appropriate scientific language, text types and representations 

• SC4-13ES explains how advances in scientific understanding of processes that occur within and on the Earth, influence the choices people make about resource use and management 

• SC4-16CW describes the observed properties and behaviour of matter, using scientific models and theories about the motion and arrangement of particles 

In this lesson, students will explore everyday examples of solutions (mixtures), and identify their components in terms of solutes and solvents. Students will examine the properties of mixtures and how to identify aqueous solutions. 

Students will:

• describe observations when substances dissolve  

• describe aqueous mixtures in terms of solute, solvent and solution 

• identify everyday examples of solutes, solvents and solutions    

• safely conduct experiments using household products.

In this lesson, students will discover some techniques used to separate mixtures such as decanting filtering and evaporation. Student will student the properties of a range of mixtures to understand how their properties are important when to selecting the most effective separation method(s). 

Students will:

• describe properties of substances in different mixtures 

• explain the processes of evaporation, decantation and filtration 

• select a separation method for a mixture based on the properties of its components 

• safely conduct investigations to separate different mixtures.

In this lesson students will investigate the application of physical separation techniques to industry and government requirements, such as the supply of clean water. 

Students will:

• explain separation techniques used in producing clean drinking water 

• describe ways to ensure sustainability of drinking water 

• use secondary sources to construct a flowchart of water purification processes.