5th grade Science Lesson

Picture
Click the image to be taken to the NGSS standards for 5-PS1.

Lesson Background

This lesson focuses on 5th grade science as part of a unit on matter and its interactions.  It assumes that it is later in the school year, students have science notebooks, and have previously been introduced to recognizing whether chemical reactions have occurred (5-PS1-4). Depending on the length of the science periods, this lesson can be expanded or contracted by controlling the complexity of the investigations.  It is intended for students to work in groups   of 3 for the duration of the lesson, though groups of 2 to 4 could be appropriate based on materials and ability.

Engage
  • Students review with their partners the 5 signs of a chemical reaction.
  • Students draw data table in their notebooks.
  • Students test their chemicals in pairs and record observations.
  • Students select their pair of chemicals for their experiment.
  • Propose the following guiding question: How can we as scientists predict how much is produced a chemical reaction?
  • Students complete a quickwrite in their science notebooks with their ideas. They then share with their partners and revise their thinking.
  • Students are asked to share with the class.

Explore

Explain to students what they will do today:
  • Develop a question
  • Identify the variables they are changing
  • Identify things they are keeping the same
  • Conduct multiple trials
Teacher monitors groups, experimental design, asks guiding questions.
  • Students must show experimental design to the lead researcher (teacher) before being given materials to conduct experiments
  • Students work together in their groups to design their experiments.
  • Students identify their question and variables.
  • Students write experimental procedures.
  • Students have their experimental design approved by the lead researcher (teacher).
  • Students conduct experiments and record data.
  • Students graph data.

Explain

  • ​Instruct students to examine their graphs and data and look for patterns. Question class and share.
  • Introduce the Law of Conservation of Mass using this video.
  • Explain that when we put something on the scale we should say “we are taking the mass.” Note: at this point, students are not required to know the difference between weight and mass.
  • Have them look at their data and graphs and see if they see evidence of this law.
  • Ask to see if there were any outliers.
    • If there were, ask what could have happened (was there a gas produced?) to explain the discrepancy.
  • Closure: Tell me what you learned from your data and the Law of Conservation of Mass.
  • Have students examine their data and graphs from the previous day. Explain patterns from their data.
  • Students record in their interactive notebooks about the law of conservation of mass.
  • Students analyze their data to see why their data did or did not work.
  • Students discuss and explain any outliers.
  • Students complete closure activity.

Elaborate

Students complete a question set as a team in order to apply their knowledge of the Law of Conservation of Mass.
You decide to test this Law of Conservation of Mass at home in the kitchen.  
​You and your family make a loaf of homemade bread and weigh it before putting it in the oven.  
You weigh it again after you take it out of the oven and you find that it weighs less!  
Did you just prove the Law of Conservation of Mass wrong?Propose an explanation for what happened.

Evaluate
  • Teacher gives students 30 minutes to complete their slide. Walk the room and provide guidance as needed.
  • Teacher runs the presentation, instructs the audience, and evaluates whether students achieved the lesson objectives.
Click on either image to be taken to the template document.

Standards Addressed in this Lesson

Next Generation Science Standards
  • 5-PS1-2: Measure and graph quantities to provide evidence that regardless of the type of change that occurs when heating, cooling or mixing substances, the total weight of matter is conserved.
  • 5-PS1-4: Conduct an investigation to determine whether the mixing of two or more substances results in new substances.
Science and Engineering Practices
  • Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
  • Using Mathematical and Computational Thinking
Math Practices
  • MP2: Reason abstractly and quantitatively
  • MP4:Model with mathematics
  • MP5: Use appropriate tools strategically
ELA/Literacy Standards
  • W.5.7: Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.
  • W.5.8: Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; summarize or paraphrase information in notes and finished work, and provide a list of sources.
  • SL.5.1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 5 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
  • SL.5.4: Report on a topic or text or present an opinion, sequencing ideas logically and using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.
  • SL.5.5: Include multimedia components (e.g., graphics, sound) and visual displays in presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or themes.
ISTE Standards for Students
  • 1. Creativity and innovation: Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. 1a, b, c, & d.
  • 2. Communication and collaboration: Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning of others. 2a, c, & d.
  • 3. Research and information fluency: Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. 3d
  • 4. Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making: Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources. 4b
​The 4 Cs of Education
  • Communication
  • Collaboration
  • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
  • Creativity and Innovation
Click here for the complete 5E document for this lesson.