Investigating Liquid Density

PATHWAY BASED ON SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS
Investigating Liquid Density – in nature and in the kitchen

Goals:

Discovering the meaning of the concept: liquid density;
Acquiring research skills through conducting experiments;
Creating an opportunity to explain the observed phenomena – liquid density, comparing, weighing, mixing liquids of different density, what floats and what sinks depending on the density of the liquid and the weight of the objects;
Strengthening the research attitude in children.

Intended Learning Outcomes

The child will be able to:

• participates in experiments under the supervision of a teacher;
• observes the behavior of various liquids and derives a definition of the concept of liquid density;
• designs his own experiments using materials prepared by the teacher;
• undertakes a critical reflection on his own learning.

The structure of the learning pathway

Stage I

Creating possibilities to discover and build the concept of “liquid density” – observing the solutions with different density levels

• Rainbow in a glass
• Investigating the density of a honey

Stage II

Mixing liquids of different density levels

• Homemade Lava Lamp with Alka Seltzer
• Can the oil drown? Investigating density

Stage III

Liquid density and weight – What floats and what sinks in liquids of different density level

• Orange Science Buoyancy Experiment
• Egg and salt floating experiment
• Liquid Density Magic

Assessment

Initial – Creating a mind-map – eliciting the children’s prior knowledge about liquids (What do you know about liquids? What i s the difference between a liquid and a solid? What else would you like to know?)

Ongoing – described in every resource

Final assessment

1. Returning to the mind-map and reflecting on what we have learned? What was the most interesting experiment? What else would you like to know about density?
2. Voting for the most interesting experiment – children may draw the stages of conducting such an experiment in the form of a comic book.
3. Creative storytelling: Imagine you are a little stone in a jar of honey – What do you think and feel? What happened to you? Draw a creative story
4. Self-evaluation on one’s own learning process on the chart prepared by a teacher

I know that liquids can have a different density

2. I can explain why the oil does not sink in the water

3. I can explain what sinks and what floats in liquids of different density

4. I can be a cautious, careful scientist – I know how follow the rules of a safety in the scientific lab

5. I can conduct an experiment

6. I can observe and make notes (record the results of an observation)