Runny Liquids

An industry making a solution based on a wood resin which needs to meet specific criteria for optimum manufacturing conditions forms the basis for the children's activities. They learn about the properties of liquids and try a range of tests including classification, investigating viscosity and the effects of warming.

Related Challenge Club Activities:

• Crops

Mixing Muddle

Science topic: States of matter
Type of enquiry: Comparative/fair tests
Keywords: LKS2. working scientifically, science capital, liquids, viscosity, investigating, recording, gases, solids, states of matter

The children classify a range of everyday liquids from water to shampoos, according to their physical properties.

• Teacher's Notes: Mixing Muddle (PDF , 103kb)
• Children's Sheets: Mixing Muddle (PDF , 269kb)

Runny measuring

Science topic: States of matter
Type of enquiry: Comparative/fair tests
Keywords: LKS2. working scientifically, science capital, liquids, solids , gases, states of matter viscosity, investigating, recording

Measurements of 'runniness' are made by timing a marble dropping through a cylinder of liquid, or by pouring liquid through a funnel and measuring the time taken.

• Teacher's Notes: Runny measuring (PDF , 1,014kb)
• Children's Sheets: Runny measuring (PDF , 174kb)

Changing runniness

Science topic: States of matter
Type of enquiry: Observing changes over time
Keywords: LKS2, working scientifically, states of matter, solids, liquids, gases, viscosity, heating, cooling

A teacher demonstration to show the effect of warming liquids on viscosity.

• Teacher's Notes: Changing runniness (PDF , 83kb)
• Children's Sheets: Changing runniness (PDF , 102kb)

The challenge

Science topic: States of matter
Type of enquiry: Problem solving
Keywords: LKS2 working scientifically, problem solving, viscosity, solids, gases, states of matter.

Using cellulose paste, children make pastes of different viscosities which retain the property of sticking paper, but which do not run off the paper.

• Teacher's Notes: The challenge (PDF , 76kb)
• Children's Sheets: The challenge (PDF , 223kb)

The findings

Science topic: States of matter
Type of enquiry: Problem solving
Keywords: LKS2 working scientifically, problem solving, presenting results, states of matter, solids, liquids, gases

Children write a letter to industry, based on their findings. They suggest ways to ease the stirring of liquids.

• Teacher's Notes: The findings (PDF , 96kb)