Milk Explosion

MANCHESTER COLLEGE

LESSON PLAN by James Vincent

Lesson:  “An Explosion of Color!”                Length:  30 minutes                      Age or Grade Intended:  Kindergarten

Academic Standard:  K.1.2     Begin to demonstrate that everyone can do science.

Academic Standard:  K.2.2     Draw pictures and write words to describe objects and experiences.

Performance Objective:  When given a set of directions, the student will conduct an experiment using the materials provided, with 100%

                                             accuracy. (Bodily-Kinesthetic)

Performance Objective:  While conducting an experiment, the student will record two observations by drawing 2 pictures, 2 out of 2 times.

                                             (Spatial)

Performance Objective:  After an experiment is conducted, the student will write two observations using words, 2 out of 2 times. (Linguistic)

Advanced Preparation by Teacher

      Experimental:

            Materials:  Each student should receive:

                                       1 cup of room temperature whole or 2% milk

                                       1 bowl

                                       1 Q-tip

                                       1 small cup with 2 tbsp of dish soap

                             Each group should receive:

                                       4 different colors of food coloring

            Closure Materials:  Each student should receive:

                                                    1 pre-hole-punched note card

                                                    1 pencil

            Other materials needed:  1 ball of yarn

            Setup:  Arrange the desks into sets or groups of four.  Place the allotted amounts of materials on each desk.

Procedure

            Introduction/Motivation:  Who here has ever heard of bumper cars?  Who here has ever accidentally bumped into someone or something?

                                                          What happens? (demonstrate the effect if needed)  Well, today we are going to take a look at what happens

                                                          when milk and soap are mixed together and bounce off of each other, just like bumper cars. (Knowledge)

            Step-by-Step Plan:  1. Pass out lab booklets.

                                                2. Review key terms: question, observe, and decide. (Comprehension)

                                                3. Explain experiment.

                                                           a. Pour milk into bowl.  What happened?

                                                           b. Add one drop of each color of food coloring.  What happened?

                                                           c. Dip end of Q-tip in soap.

                                                           d. Place soapy Q-tip end in bowl of milk.  What happened?

                                                 4.  Clean up.

            Closure:  “Web of Knowledge”

                               Get all the students into a circle (preferably sitting).  Give each student one pre-hole-punched note card and a pencil.  Instruct

                               each student to write down one thing they learned during the lesson onto the note card.  Select one student to begin the activity,

                               instructing them to state what they wrote on the card.  They are then given a ball of yarn and instructed to hold the end of the

                               yarn, and pass it to someone sitting across from them in the circle.  That next person is to share what they wrote on the card,

                               hold onto their portion of the yarn, and then pass it to someone else.  The yarn should be passed until each student has shared

                               their learned knowledge.  The end result will be a giant web of yarn.  The teacher should proceed to cut the yarn until each

                               student has a piece to themselves.  Once the student has their piece, instruct them to slide the yarn through the holes in the cards

                               and tie the ends together, creating a necklace.  These can be kept throughout the semester and more note cards of learned

                               information can be placed on the yarn, providing the students with a visual of what all they have learned! (Knowledge and

                               Comprehension)  (Intrapersonal and Bodily-Kinesthetic)

Assessment:    Authentic assessment:  I will watch each student conduct the experiment, either independently or with guidance as needed. 

                          Scientific Study Sheet:  I am looking to make sure each student follows the process of questioning, observing, and then answering.

Adaptations:  For the student with a learning disability in writing, I adapted the assessment from writing what he/she knew to drawing what he/she

                         knew and writing one key word to describe it.  You may choose to also offer the opportunity for the student to orally present his/her

                         idea while you then write the complete sentence on his/her card.

Enrichments:  An enrichment you could include for those students who are gifted and talented is to allow them to measure the 1 cup milk prior to

                          the class experiment.  This gives them the opportunity to practice measuring skills in addition to conducting the experiment.  If you

                          are teaching an all special education classroom, such as my student placement in Fort Wayne, you may choose to allow some of the

                          higher functioning students to practice this as well, though they may need more individualized guidance.

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