EpicScience

In lesson 2 we learned that density is a property that describes the amount of mass in a specific volume of a substance. By making a density column, we can compare the relative density of several different liquids. Just like a boat floats on water, a less dense liquid can float on a more dense liquid, making layers of liquids with different densities.

In lesson 4, we will be looking at chemical properties of matter. Unlike physical properties, observing a material’s chemical properties requires a chemical reaction that results in a change to the material. Understanding a substance’s chemical properties allow us to predict how it will react with other substances and energy sources. Chemical properties can help us to predict how a substance will react with fire, acids or bases, oxygen, or other chemicals. Observing chemical properties during and following reactions also allow us to better understand and describe chemical reactions that occur. During this lesson we will examine and test the chemical properties of several different substances.

For this chemical change demonstration, we look at the oxidation reaction that occurs as steel wool burns. Unlike substances like paper and wood that lose mass as they burn; steel wool oxidizes, adding oxygen atoms to the iron and increasing mass. Watch until the end for burning steel wool at night!

Chemical changes occur when a chemical reaction causes a new substance to be formed from an existing substance. In this demonstration of thermite, a chemical change called oxidation causes oxygen atoms in the iron oxide to bond with aluminum atoms to form aluminum oxide and iron.

In lesson 2, we will be studying density, an important physical property of matter. The property of density measures the amount of matter in a fixed volume. An objects density shows the relationship between the mass and volume of an object or substance. Density is measured in grams per cubic centimeter. This means that for a substance with a density of 1g/cc, one cubic centimeter of the substance will have a mass of one gram. In a very dense material, the molecules will be packed tightly together; but in a less dense material, there will be more space between molecules. In this lesson, we will compare the density of a variety of different materials, as well as calculate the density of several substances. Using substances with known densities, we will also predict and test the buoyancy of those substances.

Buoyancy describes the ability of an object to float in water or another liquid. The less dense an object is, the more buoyancy it will have. In this activity we look at how boats built from aluminum foil are able to remain buoyant with different amounts of mass based on their design.

This lesson explores different physical and chemical properties of substances with similar appearances - two different green liquids mixed with two different white solids. The first reaction mixes vinegar and baking soda, producing carbon dioxide gas and causing the flask to slowly foam over. The second combines hydrogen peroxide and potassium iodide to make a much more exciting elephant toothpaste reaction.

As we explore the physical and chemical properties of different types of materials, we look at the gasses helium and hydrogen. Both of these gasses are less dense than air, but one has an explosive effect when it comes in contact with fire!

In lesson 3, we will begin to explore several properties of matter. All matter has properties – characteristics that allow it to be described and classified. All properties of matter can be classified as either physical properties or chemical properties. In this lesson, we will begin our study of properties of matter by looking at physical properties. Physical properties are the characteristics that can be observed and measured without chemically changing the object or substance. Physical properties include characteristics like color, density, melting point, and more. We will be examining and measuring physical properties of a variety of objects and substances during this lesson.

Day and night occur because of Earth’s rotation. Every 24 hours the earth rotates, or spins on its axis, once. This axis is an imaginary line through the earth between the North Pole and South Pole. As the earth rotates, different areas of its surface will face toward or away from the sun. The part of earth facing the sun will have daylight, while the part facing away from the sun will have night. By the end of this lesson, you should be able to answer and discuss the following: What causes the cycle of day and night on Earth? When it is day on one side of the earth, what is happening on the other side? How does Earth’s rotation affect the way we view the sun, the stars, and the planets around us?

One way that we observe the effect of Earth's rotation is by the sun's changing position in the sky over the course of a day. A sundial is a device that allows us to tell the time on a sunny day by using the sun's position relative to us to cast a shadow that moves as the earth rotates. In this video we see how we can make a simple sundial to observe this change.

For this lab activity, we look at the physical properties of elasticity and flexibility. We observe how these properties of polymers like the plastic in a Ziploc bag allow us to pierce the bag with wooden skewers without the water leaking from the bag.

In lesson 1, we talk about matter as being anything that has mass and takes up space. Matter as combinations of atoms and molecules makes up the world around us. Matter generally exists in one of three states: solids, liquids, and gasses. We will look at these states and the transitions between each. In this lesson, we will also be discussing how we can measure the mass, or amount of matter in an object. An objects mass can be measured using a balance scale. We will also look at the measurement of volume – the amount of space that an object takes up. Liquid volumes can be measured using graduated cylinders, while the volume of solid objects can be measured through a process called displacement. The ability to accurately measure mass and volume are important skills for many of our lab activities, and students will have the opportunity during this lesson to practice measuring the mass and volume of several different objects.

Lycopodium is a powder with the chemical property of flammability. This video demonstrates why lycopodium and other fine powders can be dangerous flammable solids.

In lesson 1, we learned how Earth's rotation on its axis causes us to experience a 24 hour cycle of day and night. For this activity, we will us a light bulb and styrofoam ball to create a model to demonstrate the day and night cycle.

In lesson 1 of our matter unit, we learned that matter is anything that has mass and takes up space. In this activity we explore three different methods of measuring an object's mass using a balance scale, a triple beam balance, and a digital scale.

In this lesson we look at the physical property of solubility - the ability of a substance (or solute) to dissolve in a liquid (or solvent). We dissolve salt in water, but by boiling the water we are able to recover the dissolved salt as a solid again.

For this 5th grade science activity, we look at the physical property of absorbency - the ability of a substance to take in, or absorb, water. Using sodium polyacrylate snow powder and other superabsorbent polymers, we see this property in action!

In Lesson 5, we will investigate the types of changes that can happen to matter. Although the Law of Conservation of Matter and Energy teaches us that new matter is not being created in our universe, the matter that makes it up is constantly undergoing changes. These changes in matter can be classified as either physical or chemical changes. Physical changes are changes that happen without a chemical action. These changes do not change the chemical composition of a substance and are often easily reversible. Chemical changes, on the other hand, happen as a result of a chemical reaction. These changes occur on the molecular level and result in the formation of a new substance. During this lesson students will also have the opportunity to demonstrate their own examples of physical and chemical changes in matter.

In lesson 1, we learned that matter is anything that has mass and takes up space. In this activity we explore how to measure the volume, or amount of space that something takes up, of liquids using graduated cylinders and the volume of solid objects using displacement.