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School of Education

Name: Amy Cormier and Nadia El-Khoury

Date: February 23rd 2016

Grade Level: 5

Subject: Science

I.

Provincial Curriculum Outcome (s):

301-12 describe examples of interactions between materials that result in the production of a gas.
301-11 describe changes that occur in the properties of materials when materials interact with each other.
II.

NGSS Outcome(s):

PS1.A: Structure and Properties of Matter:

Matter of any type can be subdivided into particles that are too small to see, but even then the matter still exists
and can be detected by other means.
PS1.B: Chemical Reactions
When two or more different substances are mixed, a new substance with different properties may be formed.
III.

Lesson Rationale:
The overall purpose of this experiment is to demonstrate the effect of water density and molecular

interactions, which is part of the grade 5 curriculum. In order to participate and benefit from this demonstration,
students must know that everything is made up of molecules, the difference between and liquid and a gas, and
that oil has a lower density than water and that gas is a product of a chemical reaction. This demonstration
builds on previous learning because students in grade 5 will have learned the difference between water, liquid
and gas as well as the molecular properties of each.

IV.

Materials & Resources:

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Water
A clear plastic bottle
Vegetable oil
Food coloring
Alka-Seltzer tablets
Funnel
Measuring cups
Prediction and observation handouts
Flashlight

Explanation of demo:

V.

Pour cups of water into a plastic bottle until. (use a funnel when pouring the water into the bottle so
you don't spill anything).
Pour in vegetable oil until the bottle is almost full. (use a funnel)
Wait until the water and oil settle and are separated.
Add 10 drops of food coloring to the bottle.
Food coloring will move through the oil to mix only with the water at the bottom.
Break an alka-saltzer tablet in half, and drop both pieces into the bottle.
Watch as the colorful bubbles travel through the oil, creating a lava-lamp like effect.
Description of demonstration:
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Have water, oil, measuring cups, food coloring, alka-seltzer tablets and empty bottle at the front of

the class, prepared for experiment.

Teacher will ask a student to come up to the front and measure out cups of water into the

measuring cup.
Teacher will ask the students What do you think will happen when we pour oil into this bottle of

water?
- Have students record their predictions on their predictions handout. (Appendix A)
- Allow students time to discuss their answers.
Regroup the class and re-ask the question: What do you think will happen when I fill the rest of this
bottle with oil?
- Ask groups to share their answers with the entire class to begin a large discussion.
- Ensure to ask the students why they think this way.
Ask one student to come pour the vegetable oil, filling the rest of the bottle.
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Ask students why do you think that the oil is not mixing with the water?
Have students record the results (Appendix B)
Allow a few students to share their answers with the class.
Explain to students that the demonstration you are about to do is going to show how density affects

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the interaction between liquids and gas.
Teacher will ask a student to come add the food coloring to the bottle.
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Ask students to record their predictions of the interaction between the food coloring and water, as

well as the food coloring and oil.

Allow time for students to discuss and record predictions. (Appendix A)
Student will add 10 drops of food coloring to the bottle.
Students will record their observations. (Appendix B)
Ask 2 or 3 students to share their answers.

Teacher will ask a student to add the Alka-saltzer

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Ask students to record their predictions of the interaction between the alka-saltzer tablet and the

water, and the oil and alka-saltzer. (Appendix A)

Allow time for students to discuss their answers
Ask 2 or 3 students to share what they think.
Have student drop the tablet into the bottle.
Watch the magic happen!
Allow time for students to record their observations (Appendix B)
Students will discuss their answers within their groups.
Teacher will ask groups to share their answers.

Teacher will explain that when two different molecules are combined they may or may not
interact, depending on their properties. The water and oil did not interact because oil is less dense
than the water. The water molecules are more attracted to each other than oil molecules are

attracted to each other.

The addition of the food coloring works in the same way as the oil and water interaction. Since it is
a water-based substance, it is attracted to the water, therefore it travels through the oil to get to the

water. Once it is in the water, the food coloring mixes.

The alka-saltzer tablet produces carbon dioxide when it interacts with the water, creating bubbles
that rise to the top of the water. When the carbon dioxide reaches the oil, it does mix with the oil. It
travels through the oil, keeping itself contained in a bubble of carbon dioxide. The gas escapes
from the oil once it reaches the top of the bottle, causing the water to fall back down, thus creating
a continuous bubble reaction.

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Teacher will ask students if they think that this experiment would create the same results if they were to
use a tums tablet, rather than an alka-saltzer tablet. Why or why not?
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VI.

Allow time for discussion within groups

Ask groups to share their answers with the class.

Lesson Plan Reflection:

Was I well prepared? What could I have done differently?

Was I organized? What did I learn that will help me in the future?
Were the students involved? Was I clear in my presentation? How was the pacing?
What did the class do? How do I know if they were successful? What should I change for next time?

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