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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 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. 5 g of salt is dissolved in 100 g of water. What is the mass of the solution, in g? → 105 gPrompt: When something dissolves, does it disappear or is it still there?
  3. Which change makes sugar dissolve faster? (leaving it still / using colder water / using bigger sugar lumps / using warmer water and stirring) → 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. To test if temperature affects dissolving fairly, what must you keep the same? (nothing / the amount of water, the type and amount of sugar, and the stirring / only the cup colour / the temperature) → the amount of water, the type and amount of sugar, and the stirringPrompt: What is the one thing you are changing?
  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? Dissolving makes the total mass smaller. (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? (Granulated sugar is a different substance. / Water dislikes cubes. / Smaller pieces have more surface touching the water. / Cubes are heavier.) → 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. Water dislikes cubes.
    • B. Granulated sugar is a different substance.
    • C. Cubes are heavier.
    • D. Smaller pieces have more surface touching the water.

  2. Question 2

    True or false? Dissolving makes the total mass smaller.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  3. Question 3

    At which temperature did the sugar take longest to dissolve?

    Seconds for a sugar cube to dissolve02040608010012011910 °C6530 °C3750 °C2670 °C
    • A. 10 °C
    • B. 30 °C
    • C. 50 °C
    • D. 70 °C

  4. Question 4

    How does stirring help sugar dissolve faster?

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

  5. Question 5

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

    • A. True
    • B. False

  6. Question 6

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

    Seconds for a sugar cube to dissolve02040608010012014012710 °C6730 °C4150 °C2870 °C

    Answers

  7. Question 7

    True or false? Sugar dissolves faster in hot water than in cold water.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  8. Question 8

    A sugar cube was dropped into water at four temperatures. What pattern do the results show?

    Seconds for a sugar cube to dissolve02040608010012014012310 °C8630 °C3950 °C2870 °C
    • A. Temperature makes no difference.
    • B. The colder the water, the faster the sugar dissolves.
    • C. The hotter the water, the faster the sugar dissolves.
    • D. Sugar only dissolves at 70 °C.

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

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

  2. 2. B. False

  3. 3. A. 10 °C

  4. 4. D. It moves fresh water next to the sugar.

  5. 5. B. False

  6. 6. 99 s

  7. 7. A. True

  8. 8. C. The hotter the water, the faster the sugar dissolves.