Group Experiment #1

After identifying and working with the liquids and solids I brought in, we were ready to come up with plans for experiments.  Working in small groups, we first decided which two substances we wanted to mix together.  That was a hard task in itself to agree with others.  When that was established we thought about how we were going to set up our environment, what our procedure was, and what our predictions were.

When each student made their plans, one lucky group got to carry them out first.  Here is their experience:

Materials needed:  

• vegetable oil and corn starch
• funnel
• test tube
• straw

Procedure:

1. Put the funnel in the test tube.
2. Put corn starch into the tube about halfway.
3. Add vegetable oil for the rest of the way.
4. Mix everything with a straw.

Predictions:  

• Everything will turn hard and yellow.
• Corn starch will turn yellow.

And then came the experiment!  Following the procedure made up by the young scientists, they stuck to the plan.  Some pictures were taken, but it was hard to have a free hand!  You will also see the notes taken in their science notebooks detailing observations.  

It looked like ice cream.  It is creamy.

It turned yellow.  Liquid is soft.

This is only one experiment, so get ready for 5 more groups of student work.  Once everyone has finished with their experiments, they will spend time presenting their experiences to the class- and possibly recreating their experiment so everyone can see it firsthand!