Amazing Hydro Absorber
In the polymer Olympics, this substance would win a gold medal! It can soak up and hold up to 3000 times its weight in water! Observe the polymer “grow” as water is absorbed. Explore the effect of salt on the polymer’s efficiency.
Standards
Idea Sheets are cross-referenced to subjects listed in the Common Core, Next Generation Science Standards, and California Content Standards.
Science and Engineering Practices: 1. Asking Questions and Defining Problems 2. Developing and Using Models 3. Planning and Carrying Out Investigations 4. Analyzing and Interpreting Data 5. Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking 6. Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions 7. Engaging in Argument from Evidence 8. Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information ||Next Generation Science Standards||Grade 4||Science and Engineering Practices|||Develop a model to describe that matter is made of particles too small to be seen. [ Examples: adding air to expand a basketball, compressing air in a syringe, dissolving sugar in water, & evaporating salt water.]||Next Generation Science Standards||Grade 5||Physical Science||Matter and its Interactions|||Make observations & measurements to identify materials based on their properties. [Examples of properties: color, hardness, reflectivity, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, response to magnetic forces, & solubility; density is not intended as an identifiable property.]||Next Generation Science Standards||Grade 5||Physical Science||Matter and its Interactions|||Conduct an investigation to determine whether the mixing of two or more substances results in new substances. ||Next Generation Science Standards||Grade 5||Physical Science||Matter and its Interactions|||Science and Engineering Practices: 1. Asking Questions and Defining Problems 2. Developing and Using Models 3. Planning and Carrying Out Investigations 4. Analyzing and Interpreting Data 5. Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking 6. Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions 7. Engaging in Argument from Evidence 8. Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information ||Next Generation Science Standards||Grade 5||Science and Engineering Practices|||Analyze and interpret data on the properties of substances before and after the substances interact to determine if a chemical reaction has occurred. [Examples:burrning sugar or steel wool, fat reacting with sodium hydroxide, mixing zinc with HCl.]||Next Generation Science Standards||Middle School||Physical Science||Matter and Its Interactions |||Science and Engineering Practices: 1. Asking Questions and Defining Problems 2. Developing and Using Models 3. Planning and Carrying Out Investigations 4. Analyzing and Interpreting Data 5. Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking 6. Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions 7. Engaging in Argument from Evidence 8. Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information ||Next Generation Science Standards||Middle School||Science and Engineering Practices|||Construct & revise an explanation for the outcome of a simple chemical reaction based on the outermost electron states of atoms, trends in the periodic table, & knowledge of the patterns of chemical properties. ||Next Generation Science Standards||High School||Physical Science||Matter and Its Interactions|||Communicate scientific & technical information about why the molecular-level structure is important in the functioning of designed materials. [Emphasis on the attractive & repulsive forces that determine the functioning of the material. Examples could include why electrically conductive materials are often made of metal, flexible but durable materials are made up of long chained molecules, & pharmaceuticals are designed to interact with specific receptors.] ||Next Generation Science Standards||High School||Physical Science||Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions|||Science and Engineering Practices: 1. Asking Questions and Defining Problems 2. Developing and Using Models 3. Planning and Carrying Out Investigations 4. Analyzing and Interpreting Data 5. Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking 6. Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions 7. Engaging in Argument from Evidence 8. Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information ||Next Generation Science Standards||High School||Science and Engineering Practices
6. Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions & conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept, and to address the content of the other strands, students will develop questions & perform investigations.||CA Science||Grade 4||04. Investigation and Experimentation|||1.b. All matter is made of atoms, which may combine to form molecules.||CA Science||Grade 5||01. Physical Sciences||1. Elements and their combinations account for all the varied types of matter in the world.|||6. Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept and addressing the content in the other three strands, students should develop their own questions and perform investigations. Student will:||CA Science||Grade 5||04. Investigation and Experimentation|||7. Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept and addressing the content in the other three strands, students should develop their own questions and perform investigations. Students will: ||CA Science||Grade 6||07. Investigation and Experimentation|||7. Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions & conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept, and to address the content of the other strands, students will develop questions & perform investigations.||CA Science||Grade 7||07. Investigation and Experimentation|||3.a. The structure of the atom and how it is composed of protons, neutrons and electrons.||Grade 8||01. Physical Sciences||3. Structure of Matter||3. Elements have distinct properties and atomic structure. All matter is comprised of one or more of over 100 elements.|||3.c. Atoms and molecules form solids by building up repeating patterns such as the crystal structure of NaCl or long chain polymers.||Grade 8||01. Physical Sciences||3. Structure of Matter||3. Elements have distinct properties and atomic structure. All matter is comprised of one or more of over 100 elements.|||9. Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions & conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept, and to address the content of the other strands, students should develop questions & perform investigations.||CA Science||Grade 8||01. Physical Sciences||9. Investigation and Experimentation|||1. Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions & conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept, & to address the content of the other strands, students should develop questions & perform investigations.||CA Science||Grade 9-12||05. Investigation and Experimentation
- Physical Science
- Grades 3-5
- Grades 6-8
- Science