This lesson plan aims to teach students how to distinguish between mixtures and pure substances and design an experiment to separate a mixture. The lesson begins with an introduction activity where students determine if slides show mixtures or pure substances. Students then discuss the composition of air and how oxygen levels differ at high altitudes due to lower air density. The main activity challenges students to develop a method to separate an iron filings, sand and salt mixture using filtration. By the end of the lesson, students should be able to define mixtures and pure substances, explain how to separate the given mixture, and identify required equipment for the experiment.

1. Lesson Plan Format:
Unit/Topic/Title: Mixing and Separating
Achievement Objectives:
Develop and carry out more complex investigations, including using models
Distinguish between pure substances and mixtures and between elements and
compounds
Key Competencies: Thinking; Using language, symbols and texts; Managing
self; Relating to others; Participating and contributing (highlight teaching focus).
Science Background Information: What science do I need to know?
Composition of air
78% nitrogen
21% oxygen
1% other gases
A karat is the mass of gold / mass of substance * 24
Density of air at sea level 1.225 kg/m3
Density of air atop Mount Everest 0.426 kg/m3
Specific Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the lesson, students
will be able to:
Distinguish between a mixture and a
pure substance and devise an
experiment to separate a mixture of
substances into pure substances
Achievement Criteria:
By the end of the lesson students
can:
Define the difference between a
mixture and a substance with
reasoning and design an experiment to
separate a salt, sand and iron filings
mixture
Assessment methods (your data gathering methods)
Listen to group discussions and walk around the classroom assessing the
methods for the experiment
Date:12/6/13 Class:9Sci Time 12:30 N/- students:30

2. Learning Activities (in sequence)
Time line
5
15
20
Introduction
Teacher Moves
Today we are learning: how
separate substances in a
mixture by designing an
experiment
We know we have learnt if: we
can design an experiment to
separate salt, sand and iron
filings.
Put up power point where the
students must decide whether
the shown substance is a
mixture or a pure substance.
Substances include alcohol, a
gold ring and clean air
MIXING AND
SEPARATING.pptx
Bring up the slide of air and ask
whether this is a mixture or
pure substance. Ask for
students opinions and if it is a
mixture, what is in air. Record
their answers on the board and
on a scale of 0% to 100%, get
the students estimate the
composition as a class so it can
be compared to the actual
composition.
Atop Mount Everest, the air is
almost three times thinner,
therefore only one third of the
oxygen
After the class estimates the
composition of air, let the class
know the makeup of air and get
the class to fill out page 28 in
Student Moves
Amongst their groups, the
students discuss whether they
think it is a mixture or pure
substance and then they share
with the class
Students discuss amongst their
groups whether air is a mixture
or substance and then if they
guess substance, try and
determine the composition of air.
Students try and explain why
there is less oxygen atop mount
Everst using they learnt in the
particle nature of matter. The
answer should be that there is
the same amount of oxygen in
the air but because the air is
less dense, each breath brings
in less air particles therefore
there is less oxygen uptake.

3. the SciPad, air composition pie
graph
Main Activities (attach notes, Power Points, developed resources)
Time Line
25
30
Teacher Moves
Filtration
Ask the students to define what
filtration is and get them to fill
out page 28 in the SciPad
Give the scenario for the
experiment which is to
separate iron filings, sand and
salt. The students are given the
aim but must come up with the
method and equipment used.
Discuss safety considerations
Walk around the class and help
students develop a method.
Don’t give the method but give
them simple hints such as iron
filings being a metal and salt
being soluble.
Student moves
Students discuss in their groups
what filtration is and then
discuss the question on page
28 as a group
Students brainstorm ideas on
how these substances can be
separated. Once they have
method, they must write this
method and write the equipment
which is required
Closure/Finishing (Revisit learning intentions and success criteria; strategies to wrap up,
reflect on learning,)
Timeline
50
Teacher Moves
At the end of the lesson,
further prompt groups who
have no idea how to undertake
this experiment. Check that
methods are complete and
required equipment is listed.
Student Moves
If already haven’t done so, the
students write their method in
preparation for the next lesson
Materials / Resources / Equipment required
Projector
Safety considerations