Brandon, Kimber, Lori, Natalie, Carrie

EDRG 3520

5th grade Science

Science Center

 

 

5th Grade Science

Center :

 

For the science centers we have chosen three different activities and will divide the class into three groups.  The teacher may choose how much time she will give each group to complete the activity.  When enough time has been given, the groups will then rotate, so that each group may do each activity.

 

1st Activity: Gases in Magma

 

This activity models the gas bubbles in a volcanic eruption. 

  1. In a 1 or 2 L plastic bottle, mix 10 grams baking soda into 65 ml water.
  2. Put about 6 raisins in water.
  3. While swirling the water and raisins, add 65 ml of vinegar and stir vigorously.
  4. Once the liquid has stopped moving, observe the raisins.

 

Making a Model

 

Q. What happens after you add the vinegar? 

Q. What do the raisins and bubbles represent? 

Q. How is the model similar to the way magma behaves in a volcano?

 

 

2nd Activity: Making a Hot Plate

 

This lab demonstrates convection currents in the Earth’s mantle.

 

Q. How do convection currents affect Earth’s plates?

 

Materials:

 

1 aluminum roasting pan

2 candles (10 cm long)

clay to hold the candles up

6 bricks

2 medium-sized kitchen sponges

10 map pins

2 L water

 

Procedure:

 

  1. Stick ten pins about halfway into a long side of one of the sponges.
  2. Place an aluminum pan on top of two stacks of bricks.  CAUTION: Position the bricks so that they fully support both ends of the pan.
  3. Fill the pan with water to a depth of 4 cm.
  4. Moisten both sponges with water and float them in the pan.
  5. Slowly nudge the two sponges together with the row of map pins between them.  (The pins will keep the sponges from sticking together.)
  6. Carefully let go of the sponges.  If they drift apart, gently move them back together again.
  7. Once the sponges stay close together, place the candles under opposite ends of the pan.  Use clay to hold up the candles.
  8. Draw a diagram of the pan, showing the starting position of the sponges.
  9. Carefully light the candles.  Observe the two sponges as the water heats up.
  10. Draw diagrams showing the position of the sponges 1 minute and 2 minutes after placing the candles under the pan.

 

Analyze:

 

Q. What happens to the sponges as the water heats up?

Q. What material represents the mantle and which represents the Earth’s plates in this activity?

 

 

3rd Activity: Make Your Own Geyser

 

You can make your own geyser with a few simple props.

 

  1. Fill a bowl with water.  Place an overturned funnel inside the bowl so that the narrow end of the funnel rises above the water.
  2. Take a bendy straw and place one end under the funnel.  The other end should hang over the edge of the container.
  3. Blow into the straw.  Watch what happens.

 

Water erupts from the funnel- just like a geyser!  The pressure created by your breath forces the water upward.  A geyser functions in a similar way, although the pressure is created by heat from a magma chamber.