Liquids - Lesson Plan

The lesson on liquids is crafted to engage Year 6 students in understanding the unique properties and behaviours of different liquids. The objectives are clear: pupils should be able to articulate that liquids are 'runny' and recognise that they do not all behave identically. The lesson is structured to build upon their future learning, linking to topics such as 'Everyday Materials' in Year 1 and 'States of Matter' in Year 4. Cross-curricular connections are made with art, maths, and English, where students can draw, count, and use descriptive vocabulary related to the lesson's content. Health and safety considerations are emphasised, including the potential slip hazard of spilled liquids and allergy awareness with regard to foodstuffs used in the lesson.

During the lesson, a variety of activities are planned to illustrate the concepts being taught. The 'Liquid Tower' experiment allows students to observe how sugar affects water density, creating a colourful layered effect. In the 'Liquid Race!' activity, pupils explore viscosity by racing different liquids down a ramp, learning that thickness affects speed. The 'Opening Flowers' and 'Patterned Skittles' activities further demonstrate how liquids interact with other materials, such as paper and dyes. Each activity is accompanied by questions to encourage critical thinking and reinforce learning. The plenary session then provides an opportunity for students to consolidate their understanding by reflecting on the properties and differences of the liquids they have studied.