Great Salt Lake Hygrometers

Sarah Spector - Tue. Oct 27, 2015 (Day A)

7th Grade Integrated Science - 7-8 A

Unit 3: Properties of Matter
Essential
Question(s)

1. How does understanding the parts of a system help us understand the way the whole
system functions?
2. How can we use science as a tool in our everyday lives?
3. How is scientific understand generated, and what role does collaboration play?

How do

Academic

activities,

1. Continuation of our investigation of density

materials etc.

2. Graphing: another opportunity to practice graphing.

connect to

3. Experimental Design

students prior

Interests

knowledge?

1. Doing hands-on activities

(Academic,

2. Great Salt Lake is local, many have visited before.

interests,

Learning Styles

learning styles,

1. Logical- mathematical: graphing, collecting data

motivation,

2. Bodily-Kinesthetic: doing an experiment

Funds of

3. Naturalistic: categorizing/sorting data about the natural world.

Knowledge)

4. Interpersonal: working in a table group

Motivation
1. Intrinsic
a. Desire to complete tasks
b. Meaning/ understanding
2. Extrinsic
a. Good Grades
b. Familial expectations
c. Not wanting to let their peers down.
Funds of Knowledge
1. Math skills
2. Familiarity with Great Salt Lake
3. Other bodies of water where these conditions exist?

Assessments

Formative

(Formative and/

1. Graphing: creating a calibration curve

or summative)

2. Experimental design: controlling variables and recording data in lab notebook

3. Relative density: ordering objects, calibration curve, unknown sample
4. Exit ticket: Individual assessment
Summative
1. Clicker Quiz on calculating density

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Learning

1. Start of Class (10 min)

Activities:

a. Agenda

(Include detailed

b. Important Dates for science fair

description and

c. Outline for Assessment

time frame for

each activity)

2. Relative Density (5 min)

a. In groups, order objects from density challenge from lowest density to highest
density
b. All group member names on the sheet of paper.
3. Density Quiz (15 min)
a. Review showing work, work through one example problem together
b. Using the density formula
c. Show all work on the 1/2 sheet of antique paper (including units)
d. Enter just the number on the clicker.
4. How dense is water from the Great Salt Lake? How much salt is in the water? (50 min)
a. Have you ever been to the Great Salt Lake? Have you ever swam in it? Did you
know you float? Why is this? Are there any other bodies of water where these
conditions exist?
b. Specific gravity: Specific Gravity is a dimensionless unit defined as the ratio of
density of the material to the density of pure water. If the density of the substance of
interest and the reference substance (water) are known in the same units (e.g.,
both in g/cm3 or lb/ft3), then the specific gravity of the substance is equal to its
density divided by that of the reference substance (water =1 g/cm3)
i. Procedure (10 min)
i. Using relative measurements
i. How does one substance's density/specific gravity relate to
another's?
ii. What is a hygrometer? Hydrometers measures the weight of the liquid
displaced by the volume of the hydrometer.
i. Draw picture of apparatus
ii. Straw with play-dough covering one end
iii. Marking the height of the hygrometer in the substance for each
sample.
iii. Experimental design
i. calibration curve
i. Independent variable: how much salt is in the water
ii. Dependent variable: hygrometer measurement
ii. Graph different water/saline solution densities
i. These must be known amounts.
i. How much water did you use? (volume)

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ii. How much salt did you use (mass)

iii. What is the density of the sample?
iii. Testing unknown sample (Great Salt Lake water)
i. Where does it fall on the calibration curve.
ii. What information can we gather about the sample?
iii. How does it relate to pure water?
5. Calibration Curve (30 min)
a. Test at least 5 different samples (one must be plain water)
b. Record the variables for each sample
c. Calculate the density for each sample
d. Record the relative density/specific gravity for each sample using your hygrometer
e. Graph data: use graphing checklist
6. Test Density of Great Salt Lake Water (10 min)
a. Measure the relative density/specific gravity of great salt lake water
i. How does it compare to pure water
ii. What information can we infer about great salt lake water with our
measurements (evidence)
7. Exit ticket (5 min)
a. How does plain water compare to Great Salt Lake water? Use scientific language to
support your claim.
8. Homework (5 min)
a. Any questions for next time, write them down.
b. Study for test next time
c. Check power school and talk to your teachers if you have any concerns about
grades.
Accommodations Grouping Patterns
made for
struggling and
accelerated
learners

1. Students work in table groups. Groupings are heterogeneous by ability level, and seating
arrangement changes frequently.
Content Literacy Strategies
1. Guided notes: student take notes from the information on the Powerpoint. They know

(Grouping

that the important information is what is on the board, and that is the information they are

patterns, content

responsible for

literacy
strategies, etc.)

Differenatiation
1. Outline of materials to be covered on the test. Students know what they are responsible,
nothing is a surprise.
2. Verbal cue to take notes when we discuss the procedure for the hygrometer lab.
3. Countdown timer on the board so that students can self-monitor pacing and timeline.

Resources

1. Density Problems Clicker Quiz

2. Density PowerPoint Presentation
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3. Avogadro Lab Supplies. "How to use a Hygrometer." http://www.avogadro-labsupply.com/content/How_To_...

4. Online Stopwatch Rocket Timer. http://www.online-stopwatch.com/rocket-timer/

Standards/Expectations:
BM: All matter is made up of atoms that are far too small to see. Atoms are in perpetual motion and
the more energy they contain the faster they move. Atoms combine to form molecules. Matter is
made up of atoms and molecules that have measurable mass, volume, and density. Density is a
measure of the compactness of matter. Density determines the way materials in a mixture are
sorted. This property of matter results in the layering and structure of Earths atmosphere, water,
crust, and interior. Models are used to describe the structure of Earth.
1.: Students will understand the structure of matter.
1-2.: Accurately measure the characteristics of matter in different states.
1-2c.: Calculate the density of various solids and liquids.
1-2b.: Use observations to predict the relative density of various solids and liquids.
2-1b.: Calculate the density of earth materials (e.g., rocks, water, air).
2.: Students will understand the relationship between properties of matter and Earth's structures.

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