Matter!

This week we have been learning all about Matter. Matter is anything that takes up space. This can be one of three states: Solid, Liquid, or Gas.

Experiment 1: Balloon Poke 

We got to pass around 3 different balloons. One was heavy, hard, and cold, one was very light and almost floated, and the other was squishy and a bit heavy. After we all felt and observed them, we made guesses of which one would be a solid, liquid, or gas. After our predictions, Ms. Brown popped them open. One made a loud noise because the air (gas) popped out of it! Then another squirted water (liquid) out of it! Last, the other had a hard ice ball (solid) that was slippery and cold! 

Experiment 2: Matter is Poppin'

Question: What happens when we put Pop Rocks in our mouth? 

"They pop in our mouth!" 

"The gases are air pockets jumping and sizzling!"

Question: What happens when we add Pop Rocks to Pop?

"The gases mix together and blow up the balloon!"

Experiment 3: Gas Fireworks 

Question: What happens when you put Mentos in Diet Cola?

We created a paper funnel to drop the Mentos in to control the direction of the bubbled-over pop.  

Unfortunately, the pop foamed up the funnel before we even dropped the Mentos. As this took out half of the Diet Cola, when we dropped the Mentos in, there was no reaction. 

After our first failed attempt, we tried another brand of Diet Coke, but in a smaller plastic bottle. The mentos had the effect we thought, but not even close to the 'explosion' we were hoping for. 

Experiment 4: Freezing a Liquid to a Solid: ICE CREAM 

What you'll need:

- 1 tablespoon sugar

- 1/2 cup milk

- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla 

- 6 tablespoons salt 

- 1 large freezer ziplock bag

- 1 small or medium sandwich ziplock bag 

How to make it:

Fill the large bag half full of ice, and add the rock salt. Seal the bag. Put milk, vanilla, and sugar into the small bag, and it. Place the small bag inside the large one, and seal it again carefully. Shake until the mixture is ice cream, which takes about 5 minutes. Wipe off the top of the small bag, then open it carefully. Enjoy!

We had so much fun making 'icecream' but quickly realized the importance of having plenty of salt to cover the ice cubes to stop the ice from melting. Most of us ended up with cold milk shakes instead of icecream, but we all definitely got the idea! We can change the state of a liquid to the state of a solid by FREEZING. As well, we can change a solid to a liquid by MELTING. (Just like our ice cubes melting because the air in our classroom was much warmer.) 

Experiment 5: Oobleck-- Solid or Liquid?

Inspired by the Dr. Seuss book, Bartholomew and the Oobleck, we made our very own Oobleck. 

When you pat or shake the Oobleck it is a solid. But if you hold the Oobleck still, it becomes a liquid, all gooey and messy! 

-- Division 10