5-PS-1.2: Measure and graph quantities to provide evidence that regardless of…

Clean Water Challenge: Mixtures, Dissolving and Separating Grade 5 · partly supports this outcome

Where does the salt go when it disappears in water? Can a filter make muddy water safe to drink? How do you get fresh water out of salt water? Three hands-on lessons on dissolving, separating mixtures and the solar still, with nothing tasted and nothing boiled by children.

• Where does the salt go when it disappears in water? 50–60 min

  Teams stir salt, sugar, sand and flour into water to sort what dissolves from what only mixes, then weigh a jar before and after to find out whether dissolved salt is really gone. They use the evidence to name three mystery powders and to explain, in their own words, why dissolving is not melting.

• How can you get fresh water out of salt water? 50 min to set up and test, plus 2–3 hours of strong sun (or a 30-minute warm-water still indoors)

  Teams build a solar still from a bowl, a cup and clear plastic film, and watch salt water turn to vapour and back to liquid in the cup, leaving the salt and blue dye behind. They weigh the whole still before and after, and test the collected water with a drop on a dark plate. Cloudy days and cool rooms get an adult-run warm-water version.

Solids, Liquids and Gases Grade 5

Where does a puddle go? Why does ice float? A first look at the tiny particles that explain the stuff around us.

• Why does ice float? 50–60 min

  Students compare water before and after freezing: same weight, but more space. They float a block of ice, measure how much sticks out, and use particles to explain why lakes freeze from the top down and fish survive the winter.

Printable practice for 5-PS-1.2

• Clean Water Challenge: Mixtures, Dissolving and Separating workbook included with the unit

  2 English-support pages, 2 practice pages, 2 readings, 1 word wall, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.

• Solids, Liquids and Gases workbook included with the unit

  2 practice pages, 2 readings, 1 word wall, 1 English-support page, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.

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