Students compare how long a sugar cube takes to dissolve in cold, room-temperature and warm water on this 5th grade investigation. Page 1 gives an investigation question, four steps and a table with three trials and an average for each temperature. Page 2 shows a bar graph of sample class averages and asks three questions. The key has sample data for every trial. It supports NGSS 5-PS1-4.
5-PS1-4
“Conduct an investigation to determine whether the mixing of two or more substances results in new substances.”
Students change only the water temperature, time what happens to the sugar cube, and use the averages to answer the questions on page 2.
Four steps: 200 mL of water in three clear cups, one sugar cube, the same stirring, time until no cube is left. Students record three trials and an average in seconds for each water temperature.
A bar graph of sample averages, scaled 0 to 300 seconds in steps of 50. Three written questions ask which temperature was fastest, why warm water works faster, and what other change would speed up dissolving.
Sample trials that average 240, 150 and 70 seconds, with model answers to the three questions.
Fair test check
Before groups start, ask which things must stay the same. The steps name the amount of water, one cube and the same stirring, so students can check their own set-up.
Compare with the sample
Have groups sketch their own averages next to the printed graph. A gap between the two is a good opening for talking about measurement error.
Graph reading only
Skip the experiment and use page 2 alone as a graph-reading task. All three questions can be answered from the printed bar graph.
Get started today
