Lesson Plan

Teacher: Ms. Beers Unit: Fluids Title of Lesson: Magic Mud Grade: 8 Science School: Riverview Middle School Date: April 2, 2013

Curriculum Outcome(s): 307-6 Compare the viscosity of various liquids; 307-7 Describe factors that can modify the viscosity of a liquid.
Class Objective: Big Ideas, Key Questions: Student should be able to distinguish between a high viscosity fluid and low viscosity fluid. Time Required for this lesson: 47 minutes Assessment (Products): Entrance slip Exit Slip

Materials/ Resources: Glossary Handout, Entrance Slip, Exit Slip, Cornstarch, Water, Food Colouring, Bowls, Spoons, Garbage Bags for each group, Activity Handout, Steve Spangler Video Cornstarch Video Text/Audio/Video-based Resources: Steve Spangle Video Cornstarch Monster Features: Magic Mud activity Vocabulary: Viscosity High viscosity Low viscosity

Instructional Strategies/ Procedure for the Class: Opening o Table of Contents o Glossary hand out Students are going to start filling these out today to be filled out at the beginning of every class Viscosity High Viscosity Low Viscosity Time: 5 minutes Entrance Slip o What does it mean to have a high viscosity versus a low viscosity? o Students are to hand these in after they are finished.

Time: 5 minutes Assign students into groups of 4 no more. o Use numbered heads. o Transition: Give students 30 seconds to get in assigned groups when I say GO o Have students PICK UP their desks and place them in groups of four. Once students are in their groups, hand them their prepared magic mud, a spoon and garbage bag o Place garbage bag down on desk to avoid mess and speed up clean up at the end of class. o Hand each student a Magic Mud Hand out Follow instructions on the sheet and fill out the questions/write or draw your observations down. o The point of this activity is to have students experiment and discover on their own the different parameters of viscosity (low/high) in a very hands on manner. Circulate around the classroom, watch how the students manipulate the cornstarch and water, ask open ended questions.

Time: 20 minutes

After students have finished the activity, ask them to place all bowls/spoons/garbage bags in the garbage bin at the front of the class. Place desks back to where they were at the beginning of class. Time: 5 minutes Discuss with students their findings from the activity o What happened when you stirred the Magic Mud quickly? Slowly? o What happened when you pick it up and played with it in your hands? o What happened when you tilted the bowl? o When do you think the Magic Mud experienced factors of high viscosity? Solely based on what you observed, what do you think high viscosity means? Low? Use those questions as possible guiding questions if the discussion isnt progressing. Students can look at their handouts if they want to.

Time: 10 minutes Cornstarch Monster o Steve Spangler Video. o Ties in with the Magic Mud experiment

Time: 2 minutes Exit Slip o What did you learn today and why is it important?

Time: Remaining Time

Science 8 | Magic Mud Name: ______________________________________ Purpose: To explore and compare the viscosity of various liquids. Materials: Two (2) Bowls cup of water to 1 cup of cornstarch Spoon Food Colouring Garbage Bags Safety: Keep away from eyes and mouth Do not swallow any of the materials DO NOT wash down the sink Observations: Just by looking at the Magic Mud in front of you, does it appear to have a high viscosity or low viscosity? (Does it look like it would flow quickly, or slowly?) Write or draw your observations in the space provided. Date:______________________

Now pour the Magic Mud into the second bowl. What do you notice? Write or draw your observations in the space provided.

Poke your finger in the Magic Mud quickly.and now slowly. What did you observe? Write or draw your observations in the space provided.

Pick up the Magic Mud in your hands and squish it into a ball. Now, just let it sit in your hand. What happened to the Magic Mud? What did it do? Write or draw your observations in the space provided.

Questions: 1. What does viscosity mean?

2. Place the following four (4) substances in order from higher to lowest viscosity. Molasses, water, ketchup, oil.

3. In your own words, describe why the mixture could act like both a liquid and a solid?