Sweet Sand!
By: Moriah Moore
Purpose: To demonstrate percent composition of a sample and grain sizes with an
inquiry based activity.
South Carolina State Standards Covered:
8-1.2 Recognize the importance of a systematic process for safely and accurately
conducting investigations.
8-1.3 Construct explanations and conclusions from interpretations of data
obtained during a controlled scientific investigation.
8-1.6 Use appropriate tools and instruments (including convex lenses, plane
mirrors, color filters, prisms, and slinky springs) safely and accurately when
conducting a controlled scientific investigation.
Performance Objectives:
- Students learn to estimate the percentage of each size of candy in the
container
- Students demonstrate how scientists separate different grain sizes in a
sediment sample
- Students collect and interpret data
- Students calculate the percentage of each candy in the sample
Materials: (per group) 3 plastic containers with lids numbered 1-3, 1 lid should remain
as is, 1 lid needs several holes drilled into it that all candy can fit through except the
largest size candy you use, 1 lid needs several holes drilled into it that only the smallest
size candy fits through, Whoppers, M&M’s and/or Skittles, sprinkles, cup or bowl that
Whoppers can be put into to weight empty container #1, real sand, microscope or picture
of sand through a microscope
Activity: Working in small groups the students estimate the percentage of each candy in
the sample, separate the candies by sieving, and determine the percentage by weight of
each candy in the original sample. Students should have the opportunity to look at real
sand to see that there are different grain sizes in the sand that can be separated by sieving.
Activity A
1.) Notice the rocks in this picture are different sizes. Classify the rocks as small,
medium, and large and order the rocks from lowest to highest percentage.
2). If possible explain how the percentage describes the differences in number of
small, medium and large sand grains.
Sweet Sand!!
1.) Look at the container of candy. Notice that there are different sizes of candy just
like there are different sizes of Styrofoam chunks. Take the lid off of the
container of mixed candy, weigh the full container, and record the weight here.
2.) How much of each candy do you think is in the container? Guess the percentage
by weight of each candy in the container:
Candy
Example:
%
43%
Whoppers
M&Ms and Skittles
Sprinkles
3.) Take the lids off of all three containers. Weigh each empty container and record
the weight of the empty container on your data sheet in column A. Do not weigh
container #1 yet. Container #1 will be weighed empty at the end of the activity:
4.) Sand can have different grain sizes just like there are different sizes of candy in
the container. We can separate the sand or the candy into small, medium, and
large grain sizes by shaking it through holes of different sizes.
a. Place lid #1 on top of container #1.
b. Hold container #1 over container #2.
c. Flip container #1 upside down and shake container.
d. Keep shaking until nothing else is falling out of the candy container.
e. Some candy may remain in container #1 because it is too big to fit
through the holes.
f. Set container #1 aside.
g. Place lid #2 on container #2.
h. Hold container #2 over container #3.
i. Flip container #2 upside down and shake container.
j. Keep shaking until nothing else is falling out of the candy container.
Some candy may remain in container #2 because it is too big to fit through
the holes.
k. Now you have 3 containers of candy.
5.) Weigh each container with its remaining candy and record the weight of each
container with the candy inside it on your data sheet in column B.
a. After recording the weight of container #1 with the candy in it dump the
candy into a cup.
b. Weigh container #1 empty and record it in the data table in column A.
6.) You know the weight of the mixture of candy in its original container from
question #2. Determine the weight of just the candy in the original container:
Total weight of candy = total weight of mixture of candy in container #1 – empty
weight of container #1
7.) You now know the weight of the original mixture of candy. You have separated
the candy into small, medium, and large sizes. You need to know the weight of
each size of candy. Determine the weight of candy in each container and record it
in the data table in column C.
Weight of candy = container weight with candy – empty container weigh
8.) Determine percentage of each candy in the mixture and record it in the data table
in column D:
% of candy = (Weight of candy / answer to #6) x 100
Activity B
Grain Sizes
Percentage %
80
60
40
20
0
Large
Medium
Small
Grain Size
1.) From the graph, determine what is the percentage of large, medium, and small
grain sizes?
a. Large –
b. Medium –
c. Small –
2.) Explain how the term percentage describes the differences in number of small,
medium, and large sand grains.
A
B
C
D
Container #
Empty
Container
Weight (g)
Container
Weight with
candy (g)
Weight of
candy (g)
% candy
Example
2.45g
14.55g
12.10g
65%
#1
#2
#3
Total