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Ya Gotta Keep 'em Separated (continued)
Background Information, Activity Setup:
Students will be able to understand what a mixture is by experimenting with different sized particulate and seeing what it takes
to separate them. Set up 3 plastic cups, a teaspoon of gravel, a teaspoon of Diatomaceous Earth and a teaspoon of salt for each
group. Also give them one 50 mL syringe and a 16 oz. cup of water. Filter paper and screen are kept to the side until needed.
Step-by-Step Procedure:
1. Prepare 3 cups. Put one level spoon (5mL) of each solid material in its cup and label.
2. Observe the three solid material.
3. Add 50 mL of water using the syringe to each cup.
4. Stir and observe.
5. Write observations in notebook.
6. Separate all 3 mixtures with the filters (screen and coffee filter).
7. Place screen over the empty labeled cup.
8. Stir the mixture with wooden craft stick.
9. Pour the mixture through the screen filter.
10. If the screen filter doesn't separate the mixture, repeat the process with the filter paper.
11. Were you able to separate the mixtures?
12. Record your results in your notebook.
Expected Results:
Results may vary based on materials used, setup, procedure, and other factors, however, here are a few examples on what to expect:
• Students should be able to see the separate the gravel and water using the screen.
• The Diatomaceous Earth using the filter paper and not the salt because it is a solution.
Teaching Notes:
• The gravel will separate with the screen easily, the Diatomaceous Earth using the filter and the students should see the
relationship between filter size weaving and the physical properties of the material and how those tools play a key role in
identifying earth materials.
• The salt solution can be separated by evaporation and is another lesson on evaporation and residue.
