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Could you invent something, test theories, or 

answer a question no one has been able to 

answer? Could you be the next Thomas Edison, 

Isaac Newton, or Albert Einstein?

Absolutely yes! This book 

will help you think, explore, 

and experiment like a 

scientist!

To become scientists we must tap into our 

curiosity. We must think like scientists and ask 

questions like, what causes a rainbow or why 

is the sky blue? Then, we must experiment to 

test our scientific question or theory.

The scientific method is a way to ask and answer 

scientific questions by making observations and doing 

experiments. Using the scientific method will help you on 

your journey to discover the mystery and magic of science!

The guide we use is 

called the scientific 

method. 

1. Observe an activity in the world around you and ask a 

question. Tip: ask yourself what do I want to learn?

2. Research the question! Find information about the 

topic.

3. Make a possible explanation for that activity, an 

educated guess, called a hypothesis. Use your 

hypothesis to make predictions!

4. Test those predictions.

5. Write down your findings.

6. Come to a conclusion about your hypothesis. 

In this book we will use the scientific 

method to explore:

- Physical properties

- Physical changes

- Chemical changes

- Mixtures & compounds

- Density

We will complete three lab experiments 

together:

1) Density Lab

2) It’s a Mix! Lab

3) It’s a Gas! Lab

Are you ready to 

use the scientific 

method and  

experiment?

Yes! I'm 

ready to be a 

scientist!

Introduction

Making detailed observations are crucial to 

becoming a great scientist! This lab will focus on 

quantitative observations, also known as 

measurements. A measurement is defined by a 

number and a scale or unit. The scale used often 

changes. In this lab, we will focus on making 

accurate and detailed observations in 

measurements. 

Remember the bold 

vocabulary for later!

Density is a basic physical property of matter. 

Density is measured by a combination of units. 

Density (d) is measured by mass (m) and volume 

(V). The mass of a substance is divided by its 

volume. Here is the mathematical density equation 

you will use in your lab below. 

Density = mass / volume

    D   =   m / V        

Look how some 

objects float and 

sink in the different 

liquids! Interesting!

Title: Density Lab

Purpose/ Research Question: _____Does the 

density of regular and irregular shaped objects 

affect the way if floats or sinks in water? 

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

___.

Here we will write our lab 

together using the 

scientific method. Fill in as 

you complete the lab.

Hypothesis: What do you expect to happen? 

__I expect the heavier objects to sink and the 

lighter objects to float 

_____________________________________

____________________________________.

Equipment: Graduated cylinder, water, laboratory 

scale (grams), ruler (cm), 8 regular and irregular 

shaped objects (small enough to fit in the 

gradated cylinder)

Procedure:

1. Obtain 8 unknown solids from your instructor and weigh it to the nearest 

0.01 gram on your lab scale. Record mass in grams in your data table.

2. Next add about 25-35 mL of water to your graduated cylinder and record 

the volume to the nearest 0.1 mL. Make sure the object is completely 

submerged. Place the sample carefully in the filled graduated cylinder, being 

careful not to lose any water. Record the level of the water after addition of 

sample, to the nearest 0.1 mL. For regular shaped objects use your ruler to 

measure the height, width, and length. Multiply height, width, and length to 

determine volume. Record the volume in mL or cm3 in your data table.

4. Calculate the density of the sample using the equation D = m/V. Repeat 

until you have measured and calculated the density of all of your objects.

Remember the mass is measured in grams and the 

volume is measured in either mL or cm3.

Data Table:

Draw your data 

table here. Write 

in your results for 

all 8 unknown 

solids.

Conclusion: Answer the following questions. 

What is density the measure of? What do all the objects that sink have in 

common (observe the physical properties)? What do all the objects that 

float have in common? Does the procedure for calculating density change 

depending on the material being measured? Can you estimate the density of 

water (use your data to support)? Was your hypothesis correct? Why or 

why not?

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____ 

_____________________________________________

Introduction

In this lab, we will find out how suspensions are 

different from solutions. This lab will focus on 

qualitative observations, or observations that 

have you use your senses to observe, such as 

sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing.

CORN

STARCH

We will 

observe these 

materials in this 

lab!

A mixture is a combination of substances which 

are not chemically joined together. Mixtures have 

the same properties as their components and the 

components can be separated from the mixture.

A solution is a mixture in which other substances 

are dissolved. An example of this is salt in water. 

A suspension is a mixture of liquids with particles 

of a solid which may not dissolve in the liquid. An 

example of this is sand in water.

Salt dissolves in 

water. This 

means it is a 

solution!

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