Exploring Unknown Chemicals

Big Idea:  Properties and Chemicals                                           

Focus question:  How do we explore the unknown?    

Prediction:  If we use our senses, we can make observations about the unknowns.      

Planning:  First, we rubbed a small amount of each unknown on black paper. Next, we used a hand lens to make observations and recorded them.

Then, we recorded properties using our senses based on color, shape, texture, and odor.  

Data :

	Color	Shape	Texture	Odor	Other*
Red	White	Crystal squares	Grainy (sand white)	No smell	Rubbed-didn’t leave mark
Yellow	White	No shape	Smooth like powdered sugar	Sweet	Rubbed-left mark
Green	White	No shape	Smooth white sand	Bitter odor	Rubbed-no mark
Blue	White	No shape	Smooth white sand/more course than green	No odor	Rubbed-no mark
Orange	White	No shape	Smooth like flour	No odor	Rubbed-left mark

Claims and evidence:

Using our senses give scientists information about the chemicals.  This is true because I used my senses to explore the characteristics of the unknown substances.

Conclusion/Reflection:  To make thorough observations, it’s important to use a combination of senses. Our observations would not have been as detailed or accurate if we had not observed the substances with different senses.

Questions:  I know we used all our senses but taste to explore the unknowns. When should we use our senses to explore and when should we not use them?

Literacy Connections: 

I'm exploring with my senses:  A song about the five senses (Science songs) by Laura Purdie Salas and Sergio De Giorgi