physical science vocabulary
Hi Lindsay,
I am just starting my phsyical science unit with my students this week. To introduce the vocabulary in our first chapter, I am doing the following "station" activity. I've never done this before, so you may want to tweak it to your class:
Words:
matter, mass, weight, physical properties, density, volume, mixture, solubility
Process:
At each "station," the students will have textbooks open to the correct page, and a hands-on investigation to help them create a meaning for each word. I have made a worksheet with specific questions on it for each station (the students will take the worksheet with them to each station and fill in the appropriate section as they go). I will first have the groups read their assigned sections (no more than 2 paragraphs)--timed (2 minutes or so). Then I will have them follow the directions on the worksheet to "investigate" each word. They will fill in the worksheet. Lastly, they will fill in their "vocabulary bank" with their definition for each word.
Materials for each station:
Matter--several classroom objects (paper, pens, desk, etc.)
Physical Properties--different colored and shaped balls
Mass--balance, stapler, paper clips
Weight--food scale, stapler
Volume--shoebox, rock, measuring cup, water, ruler (with centimeters)
Density--3 empty yogurt containers, rice, dried beans, nuts/bolts (fill each yogurt container to the top with each substance)
Mixture--box with markers, crayons, colored pencils mixed together (**I wanted to use sugar and iron filings...then seperate by magnet. I couldn't find iron filings in enough time).
Solubility--2 cups, water, ground black pepper, sugar, 2 spoons
Good luck with everything! :-)
P.S. I'm not quite sure how to attach things on this website, so I'll paste the worksheet that I've made. You're welcome to use it as you see fit. The formatting is off because of the cutting and pasting:
Name___________________
Physical Science—Chapter 1 Vocabulary Investigation
Follow the directions listed for each station. Fill in the appropriate section on your worksheet. Use your textbook to help you answer the questions.
Station 1: Matter--pg C6, paragraphs 1 and 2
1) What is matter?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2) Where can matter be found?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3) Give three examples of objects that contain matter.
a)____________________________
b)____________________________
c)____________________________
Station 2: Physical Properties--pg C6, paragraphs 3 and 4
1) Describe the balls’ physical properties in complete sentences.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2) What are some examples of physical properties?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Station 3: Mass--pg C7, paragraph 1
*Place the stapler on one end of the balance. Place the paper clips on the other side of the balance.
1) Which object has more mass?______________________________
________________________________________________________
2) How do you know?______________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3) Is mass a physical property? Explain your answer.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Station 4: Weight--pg C7, paragraph 2
*Place the stapler on the scale.
1) What is the stapler’s weight?_______________________
2) Divide the stapler’s weight by 6._____________________
3) What is the stapler’s “moon weight?”_________________
4) What is gravity?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Station 5: Volume--pg C8, paragraphs 1, 3, and 5
*Volume=length ● width ● height (lwh). Using the ruler, measure the length, width, and height of the box, using centimeters.
1) What is the volume of the box?________________cm
2) Record the amount of water in the measuring cup.______mL
*Put the rock in the measuring cup.
4) Record the amount of water in the measuring cup now._________mL
5) Subtract the new amount of water (#3) from the original amount of water (#2)
-
___________
mL
6) Describe two ways to measure volume.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Station 6: Density--pg C9, paragraphs 2,3, and 4
*Pick up each yogurt container. Read the labels that indicate the containers volume and mass.
1) Density= mass/volume. Calculate the density for each object.
a) rice: g/cm
b) beans: g/cm
c) bolts: g/cm
2) Does density always stay the same for a particular
object?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Station 7: Mixture--pg C10, paragraphs 1,2, and 3
*Separate the crayons, colored pencils, and markers from each other.
1) Describe the physical properties of each object.
Markers:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Crayons:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Colored Pencils:________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2) Name 2 other mixtures that you find in the real world
a)______________________________________
b)______________________________________
Station 8: Solubility--pg C10, paragraphs 4 and 5
*Pour the sugar into one cup of water. Stir with the spoon.
*Pour the pepper into one cup of water. Stir with the spoon.
1) Which substance dissolved into the water?______________
2) How could you tell which substance dissolved into the water without using your sense of sight?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3) Which substance is soluble?_______________________________
