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Island Explorers Curriculum Home

 

Unit 1

Lesson Plan 1

Lesson Plan 2

Lesson Plan 3

Lesson Plan 4

Lesson Plan 5

Concepts/Objectives | Vocabulary/Background | Activity | Extension

 

Lesson Plan 5

 (Concepts/Objectives)
"OCEAN LAYERS"

QUESTION
What happens when ocean water, brackish water, and river water contact one another?

UNDERLYING CONCEPT

  • The density difference between two volumes of water can prevent them from easily mixing. Water containing the most dissolved salt tends to form the bottom layer while the less dense water will remain on top of the more dense water.

SKILLS

  • observation
  • prediction
  • analysis

OBJECTIVES

  • Students will be able to predict results and analyze what happens when water of differing densities come into contact.

TIME NEEDED

  • One 55 minute class period

MATERIALS NEEDED
For the preparation of the colored solutions:

  1. 150 ml of pickling salt (pure NaCl)
  2. 100 ml graduated cylinder
  3. 500 ml graduated cylinder
  4. 600 ml beakers (or jars that will hold more than 500 ml of liquid)
  5. food coloring (three colors: blue, red, green)
  6. stirring rod (or spoon)
  7. marker for labeling beakers
  8. tap water (about 2 liters)
  9. towels or rags for cleanup

For each group:

  1. Cafeteria tray
  2. Slice of clay 3 cm thick
  3. Clear plastic straw (about 10 cm long)
  4. Three 250 ml clear plastic cups containing 25 ml each of the colored solutions
  5. 250 ml clear plastic cup (waste container for used solutions)
  6. Three medicine droppers or plastic pipettes
  7. One or two sheets of white paper
  8. Towels or rags for cleanup
  9. Data sheet

 

Concepts/Objectives | Vocabulary/Background | Activity | Extension