1-2
Mystery Powders
Duration 2-3 Class Periods
ACTIVITY TAKEAWAY (Lab completed 9/12/23)
If substances have different characteristics, then they are different substances.
What should you do if you missed this class / these classes?
DO
Watch the videos below
Look at the picture of the notebook and study the observations that were made by students in the class - Basically MAKE SURE you get to see what everyone else got to see.
Read the guiding questions at the bottom of the page and THINK about them for a few minutes
Go to Google Classroom and do the reflection for 1-2 Mystery Powders
DO NOT
Look up information about this. This class is about the process of science, developing thinking skills, and constructing explanations. It is not about answers. If you look up information you will still need to explain the process using only the evidence from class.
Class Activities
Materials used for the Mystery Powder Lab
Lab Videos Of Each Powder
Below there are videos of the tests done on each powder. Unfortunately, I did not have my tripod so they are a little shaky.
Powder A
IMG_1112.MOVPowder A - Vinegar
IMG_1113.MOVPowder A - Iodine
IMG_1114.MOVPowder A - Water
Powder B
IMG_1115.MOVPowder B - Vinegar and Iodine
IMG_1116.MOVPowder B - Water
Powder C
IMG_1119.MOVPowder C - Vinegar and Iodine
IMG_1120.MOVPowder C - Water
Student Observations of Powders A, B, C
Student Riff (5-6A): Thinking and Acting Like Scientists
5-6A had an amazing day today (9/7/23): Class took an unexpected but awesome turn today. After sharing out the data for the MP Lab (see above), students made several claims. One was that all of the powders (A,B,C) are different and the other claim was that some of the powders might be a combination of the other powders (for example powder A might acctually be powder B and C combined) .
Students eagerly decided test this idea by combining certain powders to see if the combination resulted in the properties of another powder. The results of their testing is shown and this evidence led to additional claims that I would not have guessed would be generated in class today. Amazing work!
Guiding Questions
This questions can be helpful for focusing student thinking or for reviewing . Look at the observations above and consider the questions below if you missed class and before you do the journal entry below.
What do the results of the Mystery Powder Lab tell you about powders A, B, C? Why?
How do your understandings from the Mystery Powder Lab help you make more sense out of the behavior of Sugar (the sugar phenomena)?
Are there any tests or experiments that you would do after completing the Mystery Powder Lab?
What would you do?
How might that help?
Mystery Powder (1-2) Journal Entry in Google Classroom
A day classes started this on Thursday 9/7/23
B day classes will start this on Friday 9/8/23