Marvellous Materials - Frozen

Objectives

To understand that water is a material and that ice is water in a different state.

To consider, predict and then explore ways of speeding up or slowing down the melting of ice.

Resources

Vocabulary

Today's Lesson

Assignment

This lesson works towards Assignment 7. Please access the assignment for details about what you will need to submit to your student's Wolsey Hall tutor.

What to Get Ready

Ahead of the session, freeze small play figures in water in bowls and place these bowls on trays on the table. Keep a few blocks spare.

Introduction

Look closely at the play figures frozen in the ice blocks and ask: 

‘How could we rescue the figures from the ice?’
‘How can we do this without hitting the ice and breaking it?’

Encourage your student to talk about their ideas and listen to what they have to say. Remind them of the Why ice melts video from the previous session and that they will need to find a way of warming up the particles in the ice so that they move around more (and so that the ice melts and turns into water).

WATCH - Why Does Ice Melt? (YouTube)

Main Activity

Show your student the materials you have available for them to use in their investigation to try to release the figures. Tell them that they cannot take their block of ice off the tray, but they can move the tray with the ice still on it.

Then ask your student to begin their investigation, starting by photographing the play figure inside the ice, and explaining how they intend to release it.

Ask, ‘How will you release the play figures? What are the best ideas about how to do this? Why?’

They should then start to complete the 📄 Ice Investigation Sheet to help them to plan their investigation and to document their thoughts.

Encourage your student to consider ways of warming the ice up. They may choose to do this by wrapping it in a fabric, for example, or rubbing it with something. Alternatively, they may choose to move the tray to a warmer spot in the room.

When they have decided on their approach, remind them that they need to observe what happens to the ice as they try out their ideas.

Ask your student to complete their 📄 Ice Investigation Sheet once their investigation is complete.

Speaking and Listening

Film your student talking about what they found out in their investigation. They might like to use their 📄 Ice investigation Sheet to help. This video will be submitted as Assignment 7.

You could also ask your student:

‘What happened during the investigation?’
‘Were you surprised by anything you saw happen?’

If they did the investigation again, ask your student if there is anything they would change.

Extra Challenge

As an extra challenge, ask your student to keep one play figure trapped inside the ice for as long as possible and to devise an investigation to explore ways of keeping the ice from melting.

Give your student spare blocks of ice so they can test more than one idea and to keep the session as exploratory as possible.

Citations

[1] www.youtube.com [2] www.youtube.com