A P6/7 class (ages 9-11) were looking at dissolving.  To help the children to self assess their current thinking about dissolving, they completed a true/false activity.  This helped to identify problematic vocabulary (e.g. soluble, insoluble) and misconceptions (e.g. the solute disappears, dissolving and melting are the same, we cannot get dissolved substances back).

The children then experimented with salt, sugar, warm water and cold water. From this, they were able to talk about what they noticed, applying the scientific vocabulary discussed earlier. This initial exploration also led on to designing a fair test, identifying variables and recording results.

Yvonne Templeton, Colmonell and Ballantrae Primary Schools, South Ayrshire, Scotland