Description

Grades 7–12. Students use planning skills, logic, and trial-and-error to construct a flowchart that details how to separate a mixture of sand, iron filings, sodium chloride, and stearic acid. They first perform a warm-up activity to determine the mixture components’ physical properties. Students then compete in teams to successfully separate the mixture and recover the highest percentage by mass of each component. The tournament format brings excitement to the chemistry classroom while teaching important chemistry techniques and skills.

In Carolina STEM Challenge®: Separation of a Mixture Kit, students:

Examine the physical properties of mixture components before mixing
Design a method of physically separating the mixture and illustrate those steps in a flowchart
Determine the percentage by mass recovery for each component

Carolina STEM Challenge® kits include scoring and grading rubrics to facilitate assessment of team results. Team presentations allow students to think critically about their experience, to communicate scientifically, and to demonstrate their learning in creative ways. Kit materials support 15 design teams of 2 students each.

FREE 1-year access to digital resources that support NGSS instruction included.