I heard that oxygen and magnesium were going out and I was like "O Mg."  Pupils experiment with adding food coloring to water of various temperatures in order to determine how temperature impacts molecular movement. This is the second of five science lesson plans on molecules designed for the seventh grade.

Concepts

heat, liquids, molecules, cooling, temperature, variables

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Use a hot plate to boil water, starting it before the class arrives, so they can see the movement the heat causes 
• Connect the idea of water expanding to air expanding with heat using the example of a car or bike tires

Classroom Considerations

• Be aware of any allergies to food dyes

Pros

• This lesson uses the 5E model
• Provides answer key

Cons

• Oversimplification of some concepts may cause confusion later

Common Core

RST.6-8.3 RST.6-8.4 RST.6-8.7 WHST.6-8.1.a WHST.6-8.1.b WHST.6-8.1.c WHST.6-8.1.d WHST.6-8.1.e