Jenna Betts & Rob Greenough

Dr. Shaunda Wood

Elem. Science

February 14, 2016

Part A Lesson Plan

Lesson Title: Liquid Races

Topic: Properties of Liquids

Grade: 5

Time: 10 minutes

NGSS Standards: 5. Structure and Properties of Matter

Performance Expectations: Make observations and measurements to identify materials
based on their properties. (5-PS1-3)
Science and Engineering Standards: Measure and graph quantities such as weight to
address scientific and engineering questions and problems. (5-PS1-2)
Disciplinary Core Ideas: Measurement of a variety of properties can be used to identify
materials.
Crosscutting Concepts: Scale, Proportion, and Quantity: Standard units are used to
measure and describe physical quantities such as weight, time, temperature, and volume.
(5-PS1-2), (5-PS1-3)

NB Science Curriculum:
GCO: Grade 5, Unit 2 Physical Science: Properties and Changes in Materials
SCO: Students will be expected to:
- Identify properties such as texture, hardness, colour, buoyancy, and solubility that
allow materials to be distinguished from one another. (300-10)
- Demonstrate the importance of using the languages of science and technology to
communicate ideas, processes, and results. (104-7)
In previous lessons, students will have learned about liquids, (substances
with definite volume but no definite shape). The main focus of this demo
is on liquids and the property of viscosity.

Materials:
Maple syrup
Honey
Dish soap
 Molasses
Paper
Writing utensils
2 baking pans
- 1 deep pan to catch the liquids
- 1 long and shallow to pour the liquids down
4 small plastic cups
4 timers
Ruler
Tape
Saran wrap
Handout
Valentine's Day prizes for students

Safety Concerns:
The only safety concern for this demo would be to insure that no students consume any
materials.

Set Up:
Take the paper and mark a Finish Line about 25 cm back from one of the edges.
- Note: the race longer could be made longer, if desired.
Tape the paper on the back of the shallow cookie tray.
Trim off any excess paper, so the paper just goes to the end of the tray.
Cover the paper/tray in saran wrap and tape it down tight.
On a table in front of the classroom have all materials laid out.
Fill each plastic cup with roughly the same amount of liquid (maple syrup, honey, dish
soap, molasses).

Activity:
Invite four volunteers to the front of the room to race the liquids down the baking pan.
- One volunteer for each liquid.
- To get students up and moving, they can also race to choose the liquid of their
choice for the race.
One teacher will hold the baking pan on an angle for this demo.
Assign four volunteers to be the time keepers for each liquid.
- One volunteer for each liquid.
At the same time, each volunteer will pour their liquid on the baking pan.
Timers will time how fast it takes each liquid to race down the pan.
All students will record the data of the race on their handout.

Questions:
Look at each liquid; predict which liquid will race down the pan faster. Explain why.
Which liquid will be the slowest? Explain why.
 If we flipped the pan over to the other side do you think the result would change? Why or
why not.
If we greased the pan do you think the liquids would race down the pan faster? Explain
your reasoning.
Do you think there is a reason why the slowest liquid lost?

Theory:
What does Viscosity mean?
- Viscosity is the resistance to flow
- Viscosity: The state of being thick, sticky and semi-fluid in consistency, due to
internal friction.
How fast a liquid flows depends on its viscosity and the slower the flow the higher the
viscosity of the liquid. A fluid with higher viscosity resists motion because the molecular
structure creates a lot of internal friction within the liquid. A fluid with low viscosity
flows easily because its molecular structure results in very little friction when it is in
motion (kidsy.com).

High Viscosity looks thick, low Viscosity looks thin.

High Flow Rate: low viscosity

Low Flow Rate: high viscosity

Differentiation:
You could race the honey at three different temperatures, warm, room temperature, and
cooled. This will lead into a lesson on how temperature affects cohesion and changes
viscosity.
 References

DiSpezio, M. (1998). Awesome experiments in force & motion. New York, NY: Sterling
Publishing Co, Inc.

Fun Way to Explain Viscosity to Children. Retrieved February 08, 2017, from
http://www.mykidsy.com/blog/2014/05/fun-way-to-explain-viscosity-to-children/

Primary Science Demonstrations: Liquids- Learn Chemistry. Retrieved February 08, 2017,
from http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/resource/res00000915/primaryscience
demonstrations-liquids?cmpid=CMP00001122#!cmpid=CMP00001130

The Sci Guys: Science at Home - SE2 - EP7: Viscosity of Liquids. Retrieved February
08,2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6spBkVeQ4w

Osborne, L., Gold, C., Boudreau, R., & Ontario Science Centre. (1998). Solids, liquids and
gases. Toronto: Kids Can Press.