Author - Erin Moore
Category - Lesson Plans, Science, Physics, Density
Lesson Plan Duration - 47 minute(s)
Grade Level - 6-8

Lesson Plan Description

This in class demo will open inquiry and the idea of density to students.

Primary Learning Objective(s):

Apply scientific inquiries to explore the basic structure of matter measuring mass and volumes of common solids (regular and irregular) and liquids to introduce density ratios, comparing ratios of different masses and different volumes of the same kinds of samples.

Additional Learning Objective(s):

Students intrigued about planets will investigate the density of other planets. How mass and density drives Newton's Laws, the sun and black holes. How density will cause the sun to collapse, becoming a white dwarf or black hole.

Procedures/Activities:

  • Teacher will demonstrate the density for the students
  • Teacher will pour vegetable oil into a demo beaker.
  • Teacher will pour water into the beaker to see it float teacher will pour karo syrup into the beaker to see it sink to the bottom. 8 mins
  • Teacher will explain that each of these liquids are denser than other.
  • Students will recall states of matter and make a prediction why certain items are denser 13 mins
  • Students will predict what happens when a rock is dropped into the glass.
  • students will predict what will happen to the grape when it is dropped into the glass.
  • students will predict what will happen to the ice when it is dropped into the glass.
  • students will predict what will happen to the cork when it is dropped into the glass. 20 mins
  • Students will define density Students will explain why Saturn would float in a bath tub on Earth.
  • Students will examine a Netron star and why it is so dense a material.... and why it might lead to a black hole.
  • Students will explain why lower layers of planest are often denser and made of liquid.

Materials/Equipment:

  • density cubes
  • vegetable oil
  • water
  • karo syrup
  • rock
  • grape
  • ice cube
  • cork
  • Other Resources: Read more: http://lesson-plans-materials.suite101.com/article.cfm/planetary_interiors_lesson_plan#ixzz0QQlIrake

Assessment Guidelines:

This is an introductory lesson to open elements as a study unit. Diagnostic assessment Students will complete journal entries on the class discussion. Teacher will asses the entries to target the remaining learning objectives for students.