6th Grade Earth Science Curriculum Unit 1: Introduction to Scientific Methods Lesson 17: Observing Convection Objectives: After completing the lesson, students will be able to: draw and describe the process of convection as it occurs in water Key Question: "What happens when hot and cold water mix with each other?" Overview: In this introduction to convection, students observe the effect of temperature on the movement of currents in water. Students conduct three experimental trials, in which food dye is used to trace convection currents in a tray of water. Heat, in the form of a styrofoam cup filled with very hot water, is used to create the convection currents. Time Required: 40-60 minutes (1 class session). Materials: for the class pitchers with room temperature water 4 liters of near boiling water red, blue, or green food coloring paper towels for each student 1 copy of the "Convection Observations" handout (p. 45 of the Convection: a Current Event GEMS guide) for each group of 3-4 students 1 liter pitcher for holding water 6-oz. wide mouthed cup, for holding food coloring clear, plastic plant tray, 8" in diameter 4 6-oz. styrofoam cups 1 medicine dropper tub for collecting waster water Procedure: see pp. 5-10 in the Convection: a Current Event GEMS guide. Assessment: completed "Convection Observations" handout. Homework: complete the "Convection Observations" handouts. OUSD Science Content Standards (State of California Science Content Standards): #1-b, e, f; #3-c, d; and, #4-c (#1-c; #3-c, d; and, #7-b, d, e) References: Gould, Alan. Convection: a Current Event. Berkeley, CA.: Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley, 1988, pp. 5-11. Notes: The set of lessons on convection provide an excellent transition between the "Density" activities and the "Plate Tectonics and Earth Structures" Unit. Key Vocabulary: convection: the transfer of heat through a gas or liquid by currents within the gas or liquid. Unit 1 Introduction amnd Overview Unit 1 Vocabulary Lesson 1: Laboratory Safety and Classroom Management Lesson 2: Observation and Inference Lesson 3: Introduction to Observation Lesson 4: Comparing H2O to CO2 Lesson 5: Matter and Energy Lesson 6: Exploring Dry Ice Lesson 7: Marge's Systematic Observation Lesson 8: Floating Bubbles Lesson 9: Marge's Experiment Lesson 10: Investigable Questions Lesson 11: Planning an Investigation Lesson 12: Conducting Investigations Lesson 13: Sharing Results Lesson 14: Layering Liquids Lesson 15: Layering Salt Solutions Lesson 16: Density in Everyday Life Lesson 17: Observing Convection Lesson 18: Understanding Convection Lesson 19: Convection in Air Lesson 20: Intro to Measurement Lesson 21: How Big is my Favorite Stuffed Animal? Lesson 22: Measuring Volume Lesson 23: Gummy Bear Lab Back to Grade 6 Units