Homogenous and Heterogeneous Mixtures
Grade Level(s): 3-5
By: Lisa Cardillo, student at Indiana University of Pe

Learning about mixtures.

Objectives:

• TLW be able to understand and describe what a mixture is.
• TLW be able to distinguish between the two types of mixtures which are heterogeneous and homogenous.
• TLW be able to create and appropriately label mixtures.

Materials:

• clear plastic cups (11 per lab group)
• plastic spoons ( 11 per group)
• salt(4 tablespoons per group)
• pepper (4 tablespoons per group)
• water (as much as needed)
• food dye (one box per group)
• kool-aid (one package per group)
• glue (2 tablespoons per table)
• sand (2 tablespoons per group)
• soap (2 tablespoons per group)

Plan:

1. Get an empty cup and put two spoonfuls of salt into it. Then add one spoonful of pepper to the salt. Mix the salt and pepper together. What do you notice about the mixture? Record your obervations and explanations.
2. Get another empty cup and fill it a fourth of the way with water. Add one spoonful of pepper to the water and mix with a clean spoon. What do you notice?
3. Fill another empty cup a fourth of the way with water. Add about three or four drops of food dye to the water and mix it. What type of mixture is this?
4. Get another empty cup and fill it half full with water. Add 1/2 package of kool-aid to the water. What do you notice about the mixture?
5. Now fill a glass halfway with water and add about two spoonfuls of sand to the water. What do you notice? What type of mixture is this?
6. Fill another empty cup halfway with water and add two spoonfuls of liquid soap. Mix together so that bubbles form. What type of mixture is this?
7. Now put one spoonful of glue into an empty cup and mix three drops of food dye with it. What type of mixture do you think this is?

Comments:

A worksheet that is numbered 1-7 that corresponds with the mixtures they create should be used. Have the words homogenous and heterogeneous next to each number. The students can circle which one it is and then they need to explain whay they chose that answer. You can pose different questions for the students to consider. e.g. What type of mixture is it? What do you notice? How many phases do you see? Why did you choose the answer you did?