Discrepant Activity for - Physical and chemical concept assessment

Preparation

Have a candle to light. Some sugar, water, cup, and spoon to dissolve a bit of sugar into the water.

Activity

Ask the students to scrape a little wax from the candle.

Ask them if that changed the candle?

Light the candle and watch it burn.

Ask them if that changed the candle?

Ask them if there is a difference between the two changes and if so what the differences are.

 

Ask them what will happen if the sugar is put into the cup of water. What if it is stirred?

 

How is the sugar in the water the same and different to scrapping the candle or lighting it?

 

Results

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Robert Sweetland's Notes ©