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Science lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 30 minutes

Separating mixtures

Materials and their properties

CCSS NGSS.5-PS1-3England: KS2 Y5 Properties and changes of materialsEngland: KS3 Chemistry: Pure and impure substances

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Separating mixtures.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Dissolving and solutions

Leads to: Pure substances, mixtures and chromatography; Choose the best way to separate a mixture; Choose the right technique to separate a mixture

Materials: A tray of everyday objects, Sorting hoops, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Dissolving and solutions). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Is sand soluble or insoluble in water? (soluble (dissolves in water) / insoluble (does not dissolve)) → insoluble (does not dissolve)Prompt: Imagine stirring it into a glass of water. Would it disappear from view?
  2. 25 g of salt is dissolved in 100 g of water. What is the mass of the solution, in g? → 125 gPrompt: When something dissolves, does it disappear or is it still there?
  3. Sugar seems to disappear when it dissolves. Where does it go? (It is destroyed / It breaks into tiny particles spread through the water / It turns into water / It floats away as gas) → It breaks into tiny particles spread through the waterPrompt: Taste the water: is the sugar still there?

Hook · 3 min

  • Pass round objects made of different materials and ask why each one was chosen.
  • Share the objective: Separating mixtures. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Which method is best to separate iron filings from sand?
  • Step 1: A magnet pulls out magnetic materials such as iron.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: using a magnet
  • Answer: using a magnet
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Which method is best to separate gravel from sand? (sieving / filtering / evaporating / using a magnet) → sievingPrompt: Is anything dissolved? Is anything magnetic? Are the bits different sizes?
  2. Separating mixtures: which statement is NOT true? (Filtering can separate an insoluble solid from a liquid. / A magnet can separate iron from sand. / Evaporation can get a dissolved solid back from a solution. / A magnet can pull salt out of a mixture.) → A magnet can pull salt out of a mixture.Prompt: Can a filter catch something that is dissolved?

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Which method is best to separate dried peas from rice? (sieving / filtering / evaporating / using a magnet) → sievingPrompt: Is anything dissolved? Is anything magnetic? Are the bits different sizes?
  2. Separating mixtures: which statement is NOT true? (Filtering can separate an insoluble solid from a liquid. / A sieve can separate sugar from water. / Evaporation can get a dissolved solid back from a solution. / Distillation can get pure water from salt water.) → A sieve can separate sugar from water.Prompt: Can a filter catch something that is dissolved?

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Dissolving and solutions.
  • Use concrete materials: a tray of everyday objects.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Pure substances, mixtures and chromatography; Choose the best way to separate a mixture; Choose the right technique to separate a mixture.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-5.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Separating mixtures

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Separating mixtures: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. A magnet can separate iron from sand.
    • B. Distillation can get pure water from salt water.
    • C. Filtering can separate an insoluble solid from a liquid.
    • D. Filtering removes salt from salt water.

  2. Question 2

    Which method is best to separate sugar from sugar solution?

    • A. sieving
    • B. filtering
    • C. evaporating
    • D. using a magnet

  3. Question 3

    Which method is best to separate chalk dust from water?

    • A. sieving
    • B. filtering
    • C. evaporating
    • D. using a magnet

  4. Question 4

    Which method is best to separate stones from soil?

    • A. sieving
    • B. filtering
    • C. evaporating
    • D. using a magnet

  5. Question 5

    Which method is best to separate salt from salt water?

    • A. sieving
    • B. filtering
    • C. evaporating
    • D. using a magnet

  6. Question 6

    Which method is best to separate iron filings from sand?

    • A. sieving
    • B. filtering
    • C. evaporating
    • D. using a magnet

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Answer key: Separating mixtures

  1. 1. D. Filtering removes salt from salt water.

  2. 2. C. evaporating

  3. 3. B. filtering

  4. 4. A. sieving

  5. 5. C. evaporating

  6. 6. D. using a magnet