Science.4.6.B

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The student is expected to

investigate and compare a variety of mixtures, including solutions that are composed of liquids in liquids and solids in liquids; and

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Knowledge and Skills Statement

Matter and energy. The student knows that matter has measurable physical properties that determine how matter is identified, classified, changed, and used.

This is students' first introduction to mixtures and solutions.  A mixture is a combination of two or more different substances. At the elementary level, it is appropriate for students to consider a solution to be a special type of mixture in which at least one of the substances being mixed is a liquid. In a solution with a solid and a liquid, the pieces of a solid substance are too small to be seen when placed in a liquid. Each substance maintains its physical properties even when the pieces are so small that they can't be seen.  Mixtures, including solutions, can be separated into their original components.  

In Grade 5, students will describe particle behavior in solutions and use the terms solute and solvent. 

 

To the left are several orange spheres arranged in a cube shape labeled as solid. To the right is a plus sign with a beaker of blue liquid and blue spheres arranged loosely inside the liquid depicting particles. To the right is an equal sign and a beaker of blue liquid with blue and orange spheres depicting particles arranged together labeled as solution.

 

substance that occupies space, has mass, and is composed of microscopic particles

a sample of matter consisting of two or more substances in varying proportions; substances in a mixture retain their physical properties

observable characteristic of matter that can be used to identify particular materials

a substance in which a solid, liquid, or gaseous substance is evenly distributed (or dissolved) within a liquid or sometimes a gas or solid

Research

Flynn, Lee-Ann. “In Praise of Performance-Based Assessments.” Science and Children 45, no. 8 (April/May 2008): 32–35. https://www.proquest.com/docview/236901475?pq-origsite=gscholar&fromopenview=true&sourcetype=Scholarly%20Journals. 

Summary: This teacher uses performance-based assessment to measure students understanding of solids, liquids, and mixtures. Students carry out experiments and explain what they know to show mastery. In this assessment, students explore a mixture of cornstarch and water and try to decide if it is a liquid or a solid. The teacher asks guiding questions to help them determine the state of the mixture. The class then adds oil to their mixture and compares it to their previous mixture of cornstarch and water to see how it has changed.