Wet Fireworks

Created by Gaby Cardenas and Sofia Sheikh

Objective:
Students will learn about the relative density and movement of liquid molecules. They will learn that
alike molecules stick together and different molecules repel each other.

Materials:
arge! tall clear glass "ar filled with water #preferably half a gallon or more$
%lue! red and yellow liquid food coloring
& tablespoons of cooking oil
' small "ar
Spoon or stir stick for mi(ing
Clear measuring cup
' paper cup
Set Up/Preparation:
). *ivide students into groups of four! with one group per table.
&. Fill the clear! glass "ar with water and place it on the table so the students can see.
+. Fill paper cups with oil so that each cup has about two tablespoons! and assign one child to be in charge
of the oil.
,. 'ssign the remaining three students to a food coloring and allow them to pour drops into the "ar when
the time comes.
Lesson Outline:
). %egin by passing out the observation chart and giving the students time to complete the observation
chart.
&. 'sk the students a question about -.ow they they think the liquid molecules of oil and water are going
to act when mi(ed in together! and what will happen when food coloring is added/0. 1(plain to them
what density is.
+. .ave the student write a hypothesis on the data chart.
,. 'llow the students to begin the e(periment! by giving direction to the students with the food coloring to
add 2 drops of each food coloring #starting with red ! blue and finally yellow$ in the oil one at a time.
2. Give students the direction that the student in charge of the oil will stir after each color is mi(ed in the
oil.
3. 'llow the student in charge of the oil to pour the oil into the large! clear! glass "ar of water after the last
food coloring has been poured into the oil.
4. .ave the students write down what they see and observe in the data chart.
5. .ave the students compare their hypothesis with the data and have the students draw a conclusion.
Assessment:
Create a children6s book that e(plains relative density and7or that alike molecules stick to alike molecules.
Step 1: Make an Observation
See Touch Smell Hear
Water
Red Food
Coloring
Yellow Food
Coloring
Blue Food
Coloring
Step 2: Ask a Question
Today our question will be8 ).9s oil less dense or more dense that water/
&. Will the oil molecules stick to other water molecules or oil
molecules/
Step : Make a !"pot#esis:

). :y hypothesis is that oil is ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; dense than water.
&. :y hypothesis is that oil molecules will stick to ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; molecules.
Step $: %on&uct an '(periment:
). *id the oil sink or float when added to the water/
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
&. *id the oil molecules stick together or did they dissolve into the water/
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
Step ) : *ra+ %onclusions
). The oil is ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; dense than water.
&. The oil molecules stuck with ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; molecules.
Step , : -eport .our -esults
9n your assessment! make a reference to your results from this e(periment.