Melt the Ice - Rainbow Style
This lesson is full of learning opportunities! Students will learn basic science vocabulary, make hypothesees, make observations and work as a team to see who can make their rainbow ice melt the fastest. At the end students will discover a fun surprise when mixing their colorful solutions together! Great follow up lesson from Mixtures and Solutions lesson. Students will learn science terms, color mixing, and practice prediction skills.
Lesson Created By: LauraWhitener
Grade(s):
- Pre K
- Kindergarten
Subject(s):
Recommended Technology:
Smartboard, iPad (or any video recording device)
Other Instructional Materials or Notes:
Clear jars, ice, ice cream salt, hot water, droppers, food coloring, popsicle sticks, bowls, sink or float tub (directions and materials attached with center resources), hypothesis activity (attached), flashcard hypothesis activity (attached)
Lesson Progression
(Recommended pulling two teams (pairs) at a small group table)
1. The teacher will begin this open-ended lesson by pairing up students.
2. Then the teacher will give each set of partners a jar of ice, a bowl of salt, food coloring 7 warm water solution in a container for students to squirt, and a popsicle stick. She/he will tell students “This is your partner and these are your materials. We are going to see who can make their jar of ice melt in five minutes”
3. The teacher will then ask the students to talk about their thoughts about the materials. Encourage students to make guesses about the experiment.
4. The teacher will turn on a timer and scaffold students, but will mostly let them experiment with the ice and warm water.
5. Once the ice is melted and the 5 minutes is up. Ask students if they thought the salt made the ice melt quicker or slower. Have them write down their thoughts onto the attached sheet.
6. Then, ask them to make another hypothesis about what color they think the contents in their jars will make once combined. (Choose different colors for every group)
7. Continue this process until all of the teams have had a chance to complete the experiment. While the teacher is rotating groups, students can learn in science centers.
8. After all students have had a chance to complete the experiment, have a whole group discussion about their predictions, hypotheses, and observations. Tell students that adults put salt on snow and ice to make it melt faster in the winter for a real-world lesson and explanation to the experiment.
Centers:
Center 1: Mixing colors using finger paint
Center 2: Prediction flashcard game
Center 3: Teacher table
Center 4: sink or float sensory tub
The teacher will end this lesson by reading the book, Mix it Up! Written by Herve Tullet or play color mixing video provided in resources for this lesson.
Float or Sink Tub directions
Commonly used, but fun activity to practice making predictions with young students! Use the following directions to set up a center.
View ResourceSink or Float Video
Example of sink or float activity. Great whole group lesson as well. Could be used whole group before this lesson, and then added as a center for ice melting lesson.
View ResourcePrimary Color - Mixing Video
View ResourceStandards
- Science and Engineering Practices
- K.S.1 The student will use the science and engineering practices, including the processes and skills of scientific inquiry, to develop understandings of science content.
- K.S.1A The practices of science and engineering support the development of science concepts, develop the habits of mind that are necessary for scientific thinking, and allow students to engage in science in ways that are similar to those used by scient...
- K.S.1 The student will use the science and engineering practices, including the processes and skills of scientific inquiry, to develop understandings of science content.