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Science lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 60 minutes

Solutes, solvents and how much will dissolve

Materials and their properties

CCSS NGSS.MS-PS1-2England: KS3 Chemistry: Pure and impure substances

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Solutes, solvents and how much will dissolve.

  • 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: Choose the right technique to separate a mixture; Concentration in grams per dm³

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 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. 40 g of salt is dissolved in 150 g of water. What is the mass of the solution, in g? → 190 gPrompt: When something dissolves, does it disappear or is it still there?
  3. In salt water, what is the solvent? (water / the cup / salt / salt water) → waterPrompt: The solvent is the liquid that does the dissolving.

Hook · 6 min

  • Pass round objects made of different materials and ask why each one was chosen.
  • Share the objective: Solutes, solvents and how much will dissolve. 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: Which word describes this: the clear mixture made when sugar dissolves in water?
  • Step 1: A solution is the mixture of solute and solvent.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: solution
  • Answer: solution
  • 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. Which word describes this: the water in salt water? (solvent / solute / solution / insoluble) → solventPrompt: Solute + solvent → solution.
  2. At 20 °C, 32 g of potassium nitrate dissolves in 100 g of water to make a saturated solution. What mass dissolves in 300 g of water at 20 °C, in g? → 96 gPrompt: How many lots of 100 g of water are there?

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. 20 g of salt is dissolved in 200 g of water. What is the mass of the solution, in g? → 220 gPrompt: Does the salt's mass disappear when it dissolves?
  2. Why does sugar dissolve faster in hot tea than in iced tea? (Hot tea has more water in it / Ice stops sugar existing / Sugar melts in hot tea / Particles move faster, so solvent particles break the sugar apart more quickly) → Particles move faster, so solvent particles break the sugar apart more quicklyPrompt: Think about particle speed.

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: Choose the right technique to separate a mixture; Concentration in grams per dm³.
  • 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-6.

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

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Solutes, solvents and how much will dissolve

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which change would let more sugar dissolve in a cup of water?

    • A. using larger sugar lumps
    • B. stirring more slowly
    • C. cooling the water
    • D. heating the water

  2. Question 2

    Which word describes this: the clear mixture made when sugar dissolves in water?

    • A. solution
    • B. saturated solution
    • C. insoluble
    • D. solute

  3. Question 3

    At 20 °C, 32 g of potassium nitrate dissolves in 100 g of water to make a saturated solution. What mass dissolves in 200 g of water at 20 °C, in g?

    Answerg

  4. Question 4

    Which word describes this: a solution in which no more solute will dissolve?

    • A. solvent
    • B. saturated solution
    • C. solution
    • D. solute

  5. Question 5

    At 20 °C, 32 g of copper sulfate dissolves in 100 g of water to make a saturated solution. What mass dissolves in 200 g of water at 20 °C, in g?

    Answerg

  6. Question 6

    A student adds salt to water until some stays on the bottom however much they stir. What have they made?

    • A. a saturated solution
    • B. a gas
    • C. a pure substance
    • D. an insoluble solvent

  7. Question 7

    Which word describes this: the water in salt water?

    • A. solvent
    • B. insoluble
    • C. saturated solution
    • D. solution

  8. Question 8

    At 20 °C, 36 g of salt dissolves in 100 g of water to make a saturated solution. What mass dissolves in 50 g of water at 20 °C, in g?

    Answerg

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Answer key: Solutes, solvents and how much will dissolve

  1. 1. D. heating the water

  2. 2. A. solution

  3. 3. 64 g

  4. 4. B. saturated solution

  5. 5. 64 g

  6. 6. A. a saturated solution

  7. 7. A. solvent

  8. 8. 18 g