Fifth Grade Seminar
Goals
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Finish up Goal Card
Finish up Creative Me
Done with #1 & #2… Thinking Skills
Mystery Powder Terms & Examples
Mystery Powder Observations & Note Taking
CLEAN UP
Stories to Solve – Lateral Thinking
Fifth Grade
Seminar
Mystery
Mystery
 noun: mystery;
plural noun: mysteries
1.
something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain.
 synonyms: puzzle, enigma, conundrum, riddle, secret, problem
 a person or thing whose identity or nature is puzzling or
unknown.
2.
 a novel, play, or movie dealing with a puzzling crime, esp. a
murder.
 synonyms: thriller, murder mystery, detective story/novel,
murder story, crime
Powder
Powder
 noun: powder;
plural noun: powders
1.
 fine dry particles produced by the grinding, crushing,
or disintegration of a solid substance.
 synonyms: dust, fine particles; talcum powder, talc
Unknowns - Chemistry
Unknowns - Chemistry
 noun: unknown;
plural noun: unknowns
1.
 an unknown person or thing.
Mixtures
Mixture
 noun: mixture;
plural noun: mixtures
1. a substance made by mixing other substances
together.
synonyms: blend, mix, brew, combination, concoction;
More composition, compound, alloy, amalgam
Observation
Fun Senses Tests
 Go to Favorites on Internet & Word Document
Observation
 noun: observation;
plural noun: observations
1.
 the action or process of observing something or someone
carefully in order to gain information.
 synonyms: monitoring, watching, scrutiny, examination,
inspection, survey, surveillance, consideration, study, review.
 the ability to notice things, especially significant details.
2.
 a remark, statement, or comment based on something one has
seen, heard, or noticed.
 synonyms: remark, comment, statement, utterance,
pronouncement, declaration.
Inference
Inference
 noun: inference;
plural noun: inferences
1.
 a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and
reasoning.
 synonyms: deduction, conclusion, reasoning,
conjecture, speculation, guess, presumption,
assumption, supposition, reckoning, extrapolation
Frame of Reference
Frame of Reference
 noun: frame of reference;
plural noun: frames of
reference
1.
 a set of criteria in relation to which measurements or
judgments can be made.
 "the observer interprets what he sees in terms of his
own cultural frame of reference“
 This is based on what YOU already know.
Prediction
 verb
 To indicate in advance
 foretell on the basis of observation, experience, or
scientific reason
Observations + Inferences
=
Predictions
A prediction may be right,
or it may be wrong.
What Senses are used for
Observation?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What Senses are used for
Observation?
 Sight
 Smell
 Touch
 Taste
 Hear
Name some professions that work
with unknowns.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Name some professions that work
with unknowns.
 Scientists or Researchers
 Doctors,
 Veterinarians,
 Laboratory Workers
 Police, Detectives, FBI, CIA
 Inventors
 Mechanics
 Archeologists
Make a list of all the white
powders you can think of.
Stop Here….
The Seminar Seven
 Flour (F)
 Sugar (SU)
 Powdered Sugar (PS)
 Salt (SA)
 Baking Soda (BS)
 Plaster of Paris (PP)
 Corn Starch (CS)
Mystery Powders
 During this unit we will not use the sense of taste.
Unless you are working in a Test Kitchen taste is not
safe in the laboratory.
 Observation is the first thing we will use with our plain
(single) powders.
 We will continue to observe during each laboratory
test.
 A good researcher will take notes and pictures
throughout the process.
Mystery Powder Tests
 Dissolve Test
 Fizz Test
 Burn Test
 Iodine Test
Dissolve Test
Shake a small amount of powder in a test tube with
water
 A Positive test – the liquid will be clear
 A Negative test – the liquid will be cloudy
Fizz Test
Put one or two drops of vinegar on a small amount of
powder
 Very Positive – the power fizzes
 Somewhat Positive – the powder fizzes a little
 Negative – No reaction is visible
Burn Test (outside)
 Place a small amount of power in an aluminum foil
burn cup and hold over a flame
 Positives #1: look for turning brown, turning black,
smoking, smells, burning
 Positives #2: no color change or smell but, POPs; no
color change or smell but, clumps and slides
 Negatives: no change in color, no smell
Iodine Test
 Note – Iodine is poisonous if swallowed and will stain
clothing and skin! Handle with care.
 Test – place one drop of iodine on a small amount of
powder.
 Positive – powder will turn black or purple
 Negative – power will turn yellowish brown (the color
of iodine)
Deduction Time
 Each powder has different characteristics.
 Based on your observations and test results you will be
able to match each single powder to the answers on
your key.
 The tricky part will come when you have two powders
mixed together.
Double Unknowns
Each double is made from two different singles

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SU-F
SU-BS
SU-CS
SU-SA
SU-PS
SU-PP
F-BS
F-CS
F-SA
F-PS
F-PP

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BS-CS
BS-SA
BS-PS
BS-PP
CS-SA
CS-PS
CS-PP
SA-PS
SA-PP
PS-PP
Do you see a PATTERN?