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Science lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 45 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 · 5 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 instant coffee soluble or insoluble in water? (soluble (dissolves in water) / insoluble (does not dissolve)) → soluble (dissolves in water)Prompt: Imagine stirring it into a glass of water. Would it disappear from view?
  2. 10 g of salt is dissolved in 200 g of water. What is the mass of the solution, in g? → 210 gPrompt: When something dissolves, does it disappear or is it still there?
  3. In salt water, what is the solvent? (salt / the cup / salt water / water) → waterPrompt: The solvent is the liquid that does the dissolving.

Hook · 5 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 · 10 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 · 10 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 mud from muddy water? (sieving / filtering / evaporating / using a magnet) → filteringPrompt: Is anything dissolved? Is anything magnetic? Are the bits different sizes?
  2. Separating mixtures: which statement is NOT true? (A magnet can separate iron from sand. / Filtering can separate an insoluble solid from a liquid. / Distillation can get pure water from salt water. / A sieve can separate sugar from water.) → A sieve can separate sugar from water.Prompt: Can a filter catch something that is dissolved?

You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

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

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/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Separating mixtures: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Distillation can get pure water from salt water.
    • B. Evaporation can get a dissolved solid back from a solution.
    • C. Filtering can separate an insoluble solid from a liquid.
    • D. A magnet can pull salt out of a mixture.

  2. Question 2

    Which method is best to separate iron filings from sand?

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

  3. Question 3

    Which method is best to separate gravel from sand?

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

  4. Question 4

    Which method is best to separate iron nails from wood shavings?

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

  5. Question 5

    Which method is best to separate stones from soil?

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

  6. Question 6

    Which method is best to separate copper sulfate crystals from a solution?

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

  7. Question 7

    Which method is best to separate chalk dust from water?

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

  8. Question 8

    Which method is best to separate sugar from sugar solution?

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

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Answer key: Separating mixtures

  1. 1. D. A magnet can pull salt out of a mixture.

  2. 2. D. using a magnet

  3. 3. A. sieving

  4. 4. D. using a magnet

  5. 5. A. sieving

  6. 6. C. evaporating

  7. 7. B. filtering

  8. 8. C. evaporating