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pdf
Endorsement
Elementary Education
Subject

Science

Class

5th Grade Science

Unit

Physical Reactions

Lesson

Coke and Mentos

Resources

Film of reaction, 1 2 liter bottle

of Coke, 1 pack of Mentos
Students will meet the LPS
standard for fifth grade
students to focus on science
facts including concepts,
theories, and models that are
important for all students to
understand. This particular one
is focusing on a model for
physical reactions.
In the lesson, the students will
be shown a video of what
happens when Mentos are put
into a Coke soft drink. The video
will be paused when the Mentos
enter the container and the
students will need to make
predictions about what is going
to happen. The video will then
resume. After viewing it, the
students will have the
opportunity to perform the
experiment on their own. Later,
the students will be asked why
the reaction happened.

Standard

Introduction

Technology Uses/ Materials Needed

The technology in this lesson is

the video of the experiment
shown at the beginning. Beyond
that, all the students will need
to perform the experiment is
Coke and Mentos.

Objectives

Preparing the Student

Assessment of Student Learning

1. To teach the students

about physical reactions
between chemicals.
2. To cause metacognitive
thinking when we ask
what they think will
happen.
3. To create opportunities
to make predictions.
Prior knowledge of what
physical reactions are may be
helpful for the students. When
the students are ready to
perform the actual experiment,
it would be best if they were
outside or in a place where the
mess made will not pose an
issue.
Knowledge: Know the safety
rules for the lab. Know products
being used for the lab
experiment.
Comprehension: Identifying
the subject or theme of the lab
experiment. The students will
also get the chance to
paraphrasing the steps for
performing the complex task.
The students will get to predict
what will happen when the coke
and mentos are placed in the
same bottle.
Application: Apply theories
from class to the situations in
the lab exercise. The students
will use problem-solving
methods to apply to theoretical
principles to real-world issues.
Analysis: Students will
distinguish different principles
learned in class and create
models to distinguish why
different reactions happen the
way they do. The students will
also discuss how different

things used in a reaction can

affect the ending product.
Synthesis: Students will collect
ideas from prior knowledge and
formulate a hypothesis for the
different experiments that will
be conducted in class. Each
group will have different
variables with the coke and
mentos (regular coke or diet
coke) (regular mentos, different
mentos). Each individual will
summarize what happened with
their coke and mentos, and then
share with the class so the class
can collaborate with other
groups.
Evaluation: Students will then
explain the results of their
group and the results of
different groups via writing.
The students will compare and
contrast from their group to the
rest and explain what two
variables of the experiment had
an affect on the reaction. They
will conclude if their hypothesis
was supported or rejected for
each variable.
Lesson Sequence

1. Gather the materials

needed. Create a video of
the Coke and Mentos
reaction. Have a 2-liter
bottle of Coke and a pack
of Mentos on hand.
2. The students will begin
watching the video of the
experiment.
3. When the Mentos are
placed in the Coke in the
video, the teacher will
pause it.
4. The teacher will then ask

Measurement of Success

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aif4JbW92E

the students for

predictions about what
is going to happen. If the
students know right
away, allow for other
possible predictions. Do
not give hints as to what
will happen and accept
all predictions as
possible.
5. After the students have
given all of their
predictions, resume the
video and watch it until
it finishes.
6. Now bring the students
to an area where they
can perform the
experiment.
7. Supply the Coke and
Mentos and give them
the opportunity to
perform the experiment.
8. Watch and be ready to
assist with the process if
necessary.
9. Afterwards, ask the
students why the
physical reaction
happened and allow
them to brainstorm
answers.
10. Finish lesson by
explaining the reaction.
We will measure the students
success off whether or not they
can understand why this
reaction is happening, and if
they are able to follow the
directions that were given in
the video in order to complete
this model.