Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to create and understand simple potions using basic chemistry principles.

Materials and Prep

• Water
• Food coloring
• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Measuring cups and spoons
• A mixing bowl
• A spoon
• Clear plastic cups
• Paper towels
• Apron or old clothes to protect from spills

Before starting the lesson, make sure you have adult supervision and have read through the entire lesson plan.

Activities

1. Create a color-changing potion:

   • Fill a clear plastic cup halfway with water.
   • Add a few drops of food coloring to the water and stir.
   • Slowly add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to the colored water.
   • Observe the color change and explain the chemical reaction happening.

2. Create a fizzy potion:

   • Fill a clear plastic cup halfway with water.
   • Add a few drops of food coloring to the water and stir.
   • In a separate cup, mix 1 tablespoon of vinegar with a few drops of food coloring.
   • Pour the vinegar mixture into the colored water and observe the fizzy reaction.

Third Grade Talking Points

• "Chemistry is the study of matter and how substances interact with each other."
• "A potion is a mixture of different substances that can have interesting effects."
• "In the color-changing potion, the baking soda reacts with the colored water to create a chemical change, resulting in a new color."
• "In the fizzy potion, the vinegar reacts with the colored water and baking soda to release carbon dioxide gas, causing the fizzing."
• "It's important to always have adult supervision when conducting experiments with chemicals."