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Science lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 60 minutes

What makes things dissolve faster? Read the results

Materials and their properties

CCSS NGSS.5-PS1-4CCSS NGSS.SEP 4England: KS2 Y5 Properties and changes of materialsEngland: KS2 Y5–Y6 Working scientifically

Objective and success criteria

Students will: What makes things dissolve faster? Read the results.

  • 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: the next skill in this area.

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 · 6 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 bath salts 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. 5 g of salt is dissolved in 200 g of water. What is the mass of the solution, in g? → 205 gPrompt: When something dissolves, does it disappear or is it still there?
  3. Which change makes sugar dissolve faster? (using colder water / using warmer water and stirring / leaving it still / using bigger sugar lumps) → using warmer water and stirringPrompt: Particles move faster when they are warmer.

Hook · 6 min

  • Pass round objects made of different materials and ask why each one was chosen.
  • Share the objective: What makes things dissolve faster? Read the results. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 12 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: To test if temperature affects dissolving fairly, what must you keep the same?
  • Step 1: Change only the temperature; keep everything else the same.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: the amount of water, the type and amount of sugar, and the stirring
  • Answer: the amount of water, the type and amount of sugar, and the stirring
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 12 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. How does stirring help sugar dissolve faster? (It cools the water. / It makes the sugar bigger. / It turns the sugar into salt. / It moves fresh water next to the sugar.) → It moves fresh water next to the sugar.Prompt: Without stirring, sweet water stays around the sugar.
  2. True or false? Cold water dissolves sugar fastest. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Temperature, stirring and particle size: what does each do?

You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. True or false? Sand dissolves if you stir it long enough. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Temperature, stirring and particle size: what does each do?
  2. Granulated sugar dissolves faster than a sugar cube of the same mass. Why? (Smaller pieces have more surface touching the water. / Cubes are heavier. / Granulated sugar is a different substance. / Water dislikes cubes.) → Smaller pieces have more surface touching the water.Prompt: Where does dissolving happen?

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

  • 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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What makes things dissolve faster? Read the results

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Granulated sugar dissolves faster than a sugar cube of the same mass. Why?

    • A. Smaller pieces have more surface touching the water.
    • B. Granulated sugar is a different substance.
    • C. Water dislikes cubes.
    • D. Cubes are heavier.

  2. Question 2

    At which temperature did the sugar take longest to dissolve?

    Seconds for a sugar cube to dissolve02040608010012010810 °C8430 °C4350 °C2570 °C
    • A. 10 °C
    • B. 30 °C
    • C. 50 °C
    • D. 70 °C

  3. Question 3

    True or false? Stirring speeds up dissolving.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  4. Question 4

    How many seconds faster did the sugar dissolve at 70 °C than at 10 °C?

    Seconds for a sugar cube to dissolve02040608010012014012910 °C8030 °C4650 °C2070 °C

    Answers

  5. Question 5

    True or false? Sand dissolves if you stir it long enough.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  6. Question 6

    How does stirring help sugar dissolve faster?

    • A. It makes the sugar bigger.
    • B. It cools the water.
    • C. It moves fresh water next to the sugar.
    • D. It turns the sugar into salt.

  7. Question 7

    True or false? Crushed sugar dissolves faster than a whole cube.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  8. Question 8

    To test if temperature affects dissolving fairly, what must you keep the same?

    • A. the amount of water, the type and amount of sugar, and the stirring
    • B. nothing
    • C. only the cup colour
    • D. the temperature

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Answer key: What makes things dissolve faster? Read the results

  1. 1. A. Smaller pieces have more surface touching the water.

  2. 2. A. 10 °C

  3. 3. A. True

  4. 4. 109 s

  5. 5. B. False

  6. 6. C. It moves fresh water next to the sugar.

  7. 7. A. True

  8. 8. A. the amount of water, the type and amount of sugar, and the stirring