5-PS1-4 lessons
Conduct an investigation to decide whether mixing two or more substances makes new substances.
The Next Generation Science Standards code 5-PS1-4 asks students to: “Conduct an investigation to decide whether mixing two or more substances makes new substances.” These Fieldbook lessons teach it hands-on, with everyday materials, a printable teacher guide and a student sheet.
Kitchen Chemistry for Families Grades K–5
- What makes a volcano erupt? 45 min
Kids test baking soda and vinegar to find out where the fizz comes from, build the classic kitchen volcano, then open bottles of sparkling water to see what really drives an eruption: gas trapped under pressure. They finish able to explain how the model is like a real volcano, and how it isn't.
- How do spies write secret messages? 45–60 min
Kids write invisible messages in baking soda, then reveal them by painting on grape juice or turmeric water, which change colour where the baking soda is. They finish able to explain that acids and bases make some colours change, and why a plain-water message stays hidden.
NGSS is used as written in Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, so the code 5-PS1-4 matches there. Other states word and number their own versions: see curriculum alignment for your state's codes.
More NGSS standards for Grade 5
All standards we teach · Curriculum alignment by state and province
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