Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand the basic principles of chemistry through fun potion-making activities.

Materials and Prep

• Glass beakers or clear plastic cups
• Measuring spoons
• Food coloring (assorted colors)
• Water
• Vinegar
• Baking soda
• Lemon juice
• Optional: Glitter, small plastic toys, or other decorative items

Make sure to have a clear workspace and adult supervision if needed.

Activities

1. Create a Colorful Potion:

   • Add water to a glass beaker or cup.
   • Add a few drops of food coloring to the water.
   • Stir the mixture and observe the color change.
   • Experiment with different color combinations.

2. Fizzy Potion:

   • Add vinegar to a glass beaker or cup.
   • Add a teaspoon of baking soda to the vinegar.
   • Observe the fizzy reaction that occurs.
   • Repeat the experiment with varying amounts of vinegar and baking soda.

3. Acidic vs. Basic Potion:

   • Add lemon juice to a glass beaker or cup.
   • Add a few drops of food coloring to the lemon juice.
   • Observe any color changes that occur.
   • Repeat the experiment with different acidic substances.

4. Create your Own Potion:

   • Combine different ingredients from the previous activities to create your own unique potion.
   • Add optional glitter or small plastic toys for extra enchantment.
   • Observe any interesting reactions or changes that occur.

Seventh Grade Talking Points

• "Chemistry is the branch of science that deals with the properties, composition, and behavior of matter."
• "Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space. It can exist in different states - solid, liquid, or gas."
• "In our potion-making activities, we are exploring how different substances can interact and change."
• "Food coloring is a liquid dye that can change the color of other substances when mixed together."
• "Vinegar is an acidic liquid, and baking soda is a basic powder. When combined, they create a fizzy reaction called a chemical reaction."
• "Lemon juice is also acidic and can cause color changes when mixed with other substances."
• "By experimenting with different ingredients and observing the reactions, we can learn more about the properties of matter and how substances interact."