The document outlines a K-12 lesson plan focused on diffusion and permeability, detailing learning objectives, materials needed, and vocabulary definitions. It includes a step-by-step guide for conducting experiments involving coffee filters, washable markers, and filtration processes, emphasizing observations and discussions about diffusion concepts. Additionally, it provides considerations for learner variability and encourages students to engage through hypothesis formation, experimentation, and data analysis.

1. Diffusion Designs
K-12 Standards:
●
Learning Objectives:
- Learn about diffusion and permeability and conduct an experiment to show how it
works
Materials:
● Coffee filters
● Washable markers
● Tray
● Spray bottle/water
● Cardstock (optional)
● Paper Towels for clean-up
Vocabulary Covered in Lesson:
● Diffusion: Diffusion is the process by which particles, such as molecules or atoms,
spread out from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. It's a
natural tendency for things to become evenly distributed.
● Concentration: Concentration refers to the amount of a substance (like particles or
molecules) that is present within a certain volume or area. It's essentially a measure of
how crowded or dense a solution is with particles.
● Solute: The solute is the substance that is dissolved in a solvent to form a solution. For
instance, in saltwater, salt is the solute.
● Solvent: A solvent is a substance that has the ability to dissolve other substances. It's
usually present in greater amounts than the solute. Water is one of the most common
solvents, but there are others like alcohol or acetone.
● Equilibrium: Equilibrium occurs when the rates of two opposing processes are
balanced. In the context of solutions, it's when the rate of solute dissolving into the
solvent is equal to the rate of solute crystallizing or precipitating out of the solution. At
equilibrium, there's no net change happening, and the system remains stable.
Considerations for Learner Variability:
Total Time: 60 minutes
Beginning of the Lesson
Time Teacher Actions and Pre-planned
Questions
Student Actions/Learning Activities
5 min What do you know about the cup of coffee
your parents drink everyday? Make a
- Listen attentively to the
teacher's explanation of

2. hypothesis as to how you think coffee is
made.
Scientific Methods
- Ask a Question: What question
are you going to test?
- Background Research: What do
we already know about this
question?
- Hypothesis: What do you predict
for the outcome of the question to
be?
- Experiment: Test your hypothesis!
- Analyze Data and Make
Conclusions: Determine if your
data supports your data.
- Communicate: Share your results.
diffusion and the introduction
of vocabulary words.
- Take notes or follow along with
the vocabulary list provided by
the teacher.
10min - Diffusion: the movement of
particles from an area of high
concentration to an area of low
concentration. Diffusion can
happen with liquids, gasses (think
kitchen smells) and light. When we
spray the water-based ink with
water, the color diffuses across the
filter. This happens because the
water dissolves the ink, allowing it
to flow outward.
- Solubility: Ink is soluble depending
on the liquid used to dissolve it,
known as the solvent. Washable
markers use an ink that is water
based and the water acts as
solvent when sprayed on it. Other
types of permanent markers like
Sharpies use inks that are soluble
by alcohol.
Listen attentively to the
teacher's explanation of
diffusion and the introduction
of vocabulary words.
Take notes or follow along with
the vocabulary list provided by
the teacher.
During the Lesson
20 min Encourage students to think about your ● Gather materials and prepare

3. hypothesis before beginning the activity
Diffusion Activity:
Step 1 Flatten out a coffee filter in the
center of your tray.
Step 2 Draw on the coffee filter using
washable markers.
Step 3 Spray a mist of water onto the
coffee filter. Watch as the color begins to
move around the filter.
Step 4 Remove and let dry on a flat
surface. Clean your tray with a paper
towel and start again!
to conduct the experiment.
● Observe the teacher's
demonstration of folding the
coffee filters and adding
colored water to the cups or
bowls.
● Make predictions about what
will happen when the coffee
filters are placed in the colored
water.
10 min Encourage students to think about your
hypothesis before beginning the activity
Permeability Activity:
- Filters have small holes that allow
water to pass through coffee
ground while keeping larger
particles out of the brewed coffee.
- You can use different filter types
like metal and paper to get a
stronger or lighter flavor.
- Like Coffee beans, our skin too
lets in some substances and
keeps other out.
1. Pass out ground coffee beans,
filters, cups, rubber bands, water.
2. Set up cups with a filter on top and
a rubber band to secure the filter
to the cup.
3. Add coffee grounds on top of the
filter.
4. Add in water to the top of the cup
and watch the filtration process.
5. And that’s how you make coffee.
● Gather materials and prepare
to conduct the experiment.
● Observe the teacher's
demonstration of folding the
coffee filters and adding
colored water to the cups or
bowls.
● Make predictions about what
will happen
Closing the Lesson:
15 min - Lead a class discussion on the
observations made during the
experiment. Guide students to
recognize the diffusion of color
from the water into the coffee
● Participate actively in the class
discussion, sharing
observations and insights from
the experiment.
● Listen to the teacher's

4. filters.
- Why does the color of the
coffee get light as the
mixture goes through the
filter?
- Why don’t all particles go
through the filter?
- Next time you have a question of
how the world works, you know
how to tackle it.
explanations of
diffusion-related concepts and
ask questions for clarification if
needed.
● Reflect on the factors
influencing the rate of diffusion
and how it applies to everyday
situations.

5. Trail Coffee One-Pager
About:
Our story began in the 70’s high up in
Nicaragua’s cloud forest where our farmstead
flourishes today. Our founder’s fascination
with this land turned into a lifestyle and
eventually a budding coffee business that led
our Trail across the globe.
As we continue growing and searching for the
best, most responsibly sourced coffee, our
journey has led us all the way to California’s
own fertile landscape, the San Joaquin Valley.
This is where we share the fruits of our global
community with our local community in
Stockton, CA.