TITLE: SUPERBALLS
AUTHOR: Agnes Simon
Greenfield School, Gilbert,AZ 85234
GRADE LEVEL / SUBJECT: 4-6, Science
OVERVIEW: The students will mix two different solutions and
arrive at surprising results. The reaction - is it
chemical or physical? - will help child understand
molecules and polymers.
OBJECTIVES: The students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate their ability to follow directions.
2. Understand and be able to explain the reaction and
polymers.
3. Show an enjoyment and appreciation for Science.
MATERIALS:
25 ml Elmer's glue-all
5 ml sodium borate solution **
20 ml water (tap water is fine)
1-5 drops food coloring (optional)
popsicle stick or stirring rod
plastic wrap
plastic bag
plastic cup
measuring spoons
graduated cylinder 50 ml
5 oz. paper cup
** To make the sodium borate solution, mix 4 grams of
sodium borate (Na B O ) or borax in water to make 100 ml of
solution. Be sure it is dissolved.)
ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES;
Activity:
Time: Prepare ahead of time the sodium borate solution.
20-30 minutes to perform the activity.
Procedure:
1. Fill a paper cup with about one-inch of Elmer's glue.
This should be about 25 ml. (Using a graduated
cylinder to measure out the glue is not recommended
due to the clean up involved.)
2. Using a graduated cylinder, measure out 20 ml of water
and add it to the cup of glue. Stir well.
3. Add 1-5 drops of food coloring is desired and stir
well.
4. Using a graduated cylinder, measure out 5 ml of sodium
borate solution. Add it to the glue mixture and
stir will.
5. Remove the solid material from the cup and pace it
on a piece of plastic wrap.
6. Pull the solid off the stirring rod or popsicle
stick, and let the material sit for a minute or two.
The solid will be sticky for the first couple of
minutes.
7. Putty is now ready to knead, roll, stretch, etc.
8 Answer the following questions regarding the physical
properties of the Sill Putty-type material:
a. Does it stretch?
b. What happens when it is pulled hard?
c. Roll a piece into a ball and drop it on a hard
surface. Does it bounce?
d. Roll a piece into a ball and let it sit on a
flat surface undisturbed.
What do you observe?
9. For additional fun, take two different colored
balls of material and place one on top of the
other. Observe. Can you completely separate the
two?
10. Store the Silly Putty-type material in a closed
plastic bag.
11. Wash hands and materials completely when finished.
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER: This activity can be an
introductory activity or used as part of a series of lessons
on polymers and molecules. Activities that can used before
or after this lesson are the Rubber Band, Needle Through a
Balloon, and Glop (made with cornstarch and water.)
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