Objective
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand the basics of potions and their chemical reactions.
Materials and Prep
- Water
- Food coloring
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Measuring spoons
- Cups or containers
- Stirring sticks or spoons
- Protective eyewear (optional)
No prior knowledge is required for this lesson.
Activities
-
Create a basic color-changing potion:
- Fill a cup with water.
- Add a few drops of food coloring to the water and stir.
- Observe the color of the potion.
- Add a small amount of baking soda to the cup and stir.
- Observe the color change and explain the chemical reaction.
-
Create a foaming potion:
- Fill a cup with vinegar.
- Add a few drops of food coloring to the vinegar and stir.
- Observe the color of the potion.
- Add a small amount of baking soda to the cup and stir.
- Observe the foaming reaction and explain the chemical reaction.
Third Grade Talking Points
- "Potions are mixtures of different substances that can create interesting reactions."
- "Chemical reactions happen when different substances are combined and change."
- "In the color-changing potion, the baking soda reacts with the water and causes a color change."
- "In the foaming potion, the baking soda reacts with the vinegar and creates bubbles and foam."
- "Chemical reactions can be exciting and fun to observe, just like in our potion experiments!"