The sixth graders spent October studying changes in matter. They began the unit by investigating how solutions form, exploring ways to increase the speed at which to create a solution, and experimented with mixing liquids that do not form solutions. After experimenting with solutions of water and other solutes, the children learned about chemical reactions by using electricity to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen gases.
Following this they investigated reactants and products and the temperature changes caused by chemical reactions. As October became November, the sixth graders learned about the properties of acids and bases and how indicators can be used to identify the approximate pH of solutions. At the end of the unit the kids used acids and bases on indicator soaked blotting paper to create colorful “chem”eleons.