Lesson Plan

Day: M T W T F Date: 19/07/17 Period: 3&5 Year: 7

Learning Area: Science Topic: Physical Properties- Density

Curriculum content description: (from ACARA)
Mixtures including solutions contain a combination of pure substances that can be
separated using a range of techniques (ACSSU113)
Students prior knowledge and experience:
Matter has characteristics that help identify and describe it called physical and
chemical properties.
Shape, size, mass, texture boiling point and density are some examples of
physical properties.

Learning purpose:
Density is an interesting physical property that defines why an object floats or
sinks in a liquid.
Learning objectives: Evaluation:
On completion of this lesson, students Student participation in activities
will be able to:
Define density as a measure of
mass of a fixed volume.
Density does not depend on size of
the object.
Identify how to calculate density
based on displacement
Recognise that density of water can
be altered by adding salt to it.
Preparation and Resources:
Inquiry in Action booklet (pg 385-452)
Activity- will a block of wood and rock sink or float? (Demo)
- Wood block bogger and heavier than rock
- Balance
- Measuring cylinder
- Large beaker of water
Activity- density tower (Demo)
- Lamp oil, rubbing alcohol, vegetable oil, water, soap liquid, milk, maple syrup,
corn syrup, honey, ping pong ball, bottle cap, beads, cherry tomato, dice,
popcorn kernel, bolt.
Activity- Can we change the density of water? (8 sets)
- Water, salt, carrot stick, beaker
Catering for diversity :
Work with students to create diagram.
Extension: Brainstorm- Why does adding salt make the carrot float?
Timing: Learning Experiences:

Introduction: THINK- PAIR- SHARE

5 mins Brainstorm: What causes an object to float or sink

Which would sink- a piece of wood or a rock?

A few students come upto the front and feel the piece of wood and the rock
and weigh them if they choose to.

Put the two objects in a large beaker of water.

Why does the rock sink even though it is smaller and weighs less than the
piece of wood?
15 mins
Density depends on both mass and volume of the object.
How do we find the volume of these objects?
Displacement. (eureka story)

Put each object in a measuring cylinder with water and measure the
displaced volume of water.

Calculate volume of each object. Divide mass by volume to calculate density.

If the density of the object is greater than the density of water, it sinks

Main Body of Lesson:

Activity: comparing densities of various liquids and solids.

15 mins Students brainstorm where different liquids would sit in a density tower.

Does it matter how much of each liquid I pour into the measuring cylinder?

Pour different liquids and objects into a measuring cylinder and student
draw a labelled density tower in their books.

Think-Pair-Share: Can we change the density of water? Can we make

If time something float in water that would generally sink?

Activity:
Put a carrot stick in the beaker with water. Record observations. Add salt and
stir. Notice what happens as the water gets saltier.

Salt increases the density of water so its larger than the density of the
carrot- hence the carrot floats
Extension: Why?
Conclusion:
Density is the relationship between a substances mass to its volume. For
instance the more compact an object is the more dense it is.

Quick Quiz

Transition:
Tomorrow we are going to look at the physical properties of an interesting
substance.
Can you find out if there is a substance that is neither a solid or a liquid and
you can share it in class tomorrow.