Making Crystals

The reason we grew crystals was to see how liquids can be changed into solids. And these ones could be eaten because they were made of sugar!
We have a lot of children wanting to make these at home so here are our instructions.

In a pot, heat at least three cups of sugar together with one cup of water. I know it seems like a lot of sugar, but you want to dissolve as much sugar as possible into the water. While stirring, bring the sugar solution to a boil. Remove the pan from heat and, if you want, add a few drops of food colouring.

While the sugar solution is cooling, get a jar ready for growing the crystals. Hang a string or popsicle stick into a glass or jar. Don't let the string or stick touch the sides or bottom of the container. Pour the sugar solution into your jar. Grow your crystals somewhere they won't be disturbed. Crystals will start growing in a day or two.

Be patient - crystals will form as the water evaporates. If you see crystals growing on the top of the container, break them off and eat them or throw them away. If crystals start to grow on the sides or bottom of the container, just transfer the crystals and crystal solution to a clean glass or jar.

What is the difference between a solid, liquid and gas?

Liquid

Liquids

Milk is a liquid. Milk is liquid matter. It has a size or volume. Volume means it takes up space. But milk doesn't have a definite shape. It takes the shape of its container.

Liquids can flow, be poured, and spilled. Did you ever spill juice? Did you notice how the liquid goes everywhere and you have to hurry and wipe it up? The liquid is taking the shape of the floor and the floor is a limitless boundary (until it hits the wall). You can't spill a wooden block. You can drop it and it still has the same shape.

What about peanut butter and jam?

You can spread peanut butter on bread, but peanut butter does not flow. It is not a liquid at room temperature. You have to heat peanut butter up to make it a liquid. When you or your mom makes jam, it is first a liquid. You have to put it in the refrigerator so that it becomes a solid. These are yummy forms of matter with properties of a liquid and a solid.

Solids, Liquids, Gases

SOLIDS
• Keeps its own shape
• All particles are very close together

LIQUIDS
• Fills the shape of the container
• Particles are not close together

GASES
• Fills all the space around them
• Particles are not close together

Solid, Liquid and Gas

States of Matter

To begin the term we are going to look at Change of state. Our BIG IDEA for the year is 'Change'. Take a look at this YouTube video to see how the particles are arranged for solids, liquids and gases.