This is a great design process experiement where the students can see the process fo design and also see what happens whern different oils and water mixes. This is something fun that the students will be very engaged in while deisgning and making their own lava lamps.
Students who are more advanced can find the density of the liquids and then explain why some liguids are "heavier" than others. This activity could also be used for higher grades that deal with finding densities of different substances.
This activity can be connected to math by measuring the volumes of the liquids.
It's fun to add the liquids out of order from densest to least dense and observe as they still seek their layer. I've done this with Karo syrup that I've added blue food coloring to, red water, and oil, but we add the water first, then the Karo syrup, and then the oil and the liquid seeks its layer. We extend this further by stirring the liquids too. Some of the layers separate out, but others remain mixed. It's a cool activity!
5.1.2 "Describe the difference between weight and mass. Understand that weight is dependent on gravity and mass is the amount of matter in a given substance or material."
Extension: After completing the experiment with oil and water, students could experiment with other liquids and make a hypothesis whether or not the density of the two liquids will be the same or different.
In this activity students compare the mass and volume of different liguids by pouring the liquids into the same container and seeing which ones are "heavier" and "lighter."
Density - or mass per volume - of a liquid is an important scientific concept that can be viewed with the naked eye. We see it all the time with oil and water. Oil has a different density than water so the two liquids do not mix. In this experiment your child will look at a number of liquids with different densities and compare them all to water. She'll build her science skills and learn one of the most fundamental scientific concepts she'll use for years to come.
Extensions: This activity connects science with music (sound waves).
Adaptations: Gifted students can adjust the musical notes that are created by adding more or less water to each glass or create a musical tune. Have ESL and Special Ed students give a thumbs up or down if sound is higher or lower in pitch and show why. Do this activity in small groups to help with learning.
Design a Great Glass Xylophone! - science experiment
Explore the effect of varying amounts of water in each glass
Supplies: 6 tall glass glasses, bottles, or jars (preferably the same shape and size), food coloring or colorful soft drink mix, metal spoon, wooden spoon, or wooden popsicle sticks, jug
Be sure to separate kids based into mixed ability groups or pairs because their could be a lot of directions for low-ability students. Plus mixing them up by ability can really help students learn from one another.