Students first get introduced to the concepts of pure substances and mixtures, and the particle theory by doing a photo-hunt for matter in their home and exploring the world of particles through images from electron microscopes. Then students design their own experiments following the scientific method to answer questions about the properties of matter. Scaffolding can be used to encourage gradual release of responsibility for choices of materials and methods. In a second activity, students are required to design and build a water purifying system using basic materials to separate the various ‘pollutants’, with a focus on disposal of the ‘refuse’ of the experiment in an eco-sensitive manner.
Related Resources:
Ener-GEE!
Categories: Lab/Student Activity, Lesson Plan
The students and teacher will go for a walk in the schoolyard or community, looking for different forms of energy (sun, wind, gas, electrical, food). This will be a shared experience that will become... read more
Butterfly Inquiry
Categories: Lab/Student Activity
This project engages students in the inquiry process about butterflies in their school community. They have opportunities to explore the differences in appearance between different insects such as... read more
How Can We Use Optics to Maximize Food Production? SNC2D SNC2P
Categories: General Interest, Lab/Student Activity
In this inquiry-based activity, students will design and build a model of a greenhouse using mirrors and/or lenses that can be used to grow food all year. They will use their knowledge of optics to... read more