2
Explore

Catching Particles

Duration
30 minutes
Type
Explore
Standards
1-LS1-1, 2-LS2-2

Learning Goals

Students will be able to:

Big Question

"Can we catch the tiny things floating in the air?"

Materials Needed

  • White paper plates or index cards
  • Petroleum jelly (like Vaseline) or double-sided tape
  • String or yarn for hanging
  • Magnifying glasses
  • Hole punch

Circle Time: Can We Catch Dust? (5 min)

Teacher Says:

"Yesterday we saw dust floating in the air. Today we are going to be scientists! We are going to catch the dust and look at it up close. How do you think we can catch something so tiny? What if we make something sticky for the dust to land on?"

Activity 1: Make Particle Catchers (10 min)

Steps:

  1. Give each student a paper plate or index card
  2. Help them write their name on the back
  3. Spread a thin layer of petroleum jelly on one side (or use tape)
  4. Punch a hole and add string
  5. Now they have a particle catcher!
Explain: "The sticky part will catch any tiny things floating in the air. The particles will stick and we can see them later!"

Activity 2: Place the Catchers (5 min)

Choose Different Spots:

  • Near the window
  • By the door
  • Under a desk
  • Near the reading corner
  • Outside (if possible)

Hang or lay the catchers in different places. Leave them for at least one hour (or overnight for best results).

Prediction Time: "Which catcher do you think will have the most stuff on it? Why?"

Activity 3: Look at What We Caught (8 min)

After Waiting:

  1. Collect all the particle catchers
  2. Look at them with magnifying glasses
  3. Compare: Which has more? Which has less?
  4. Describe what you see: Fuzzy bits? Dark specks? Colors?
Discovery: "We caught particles from the air! Some places have more dust than others. The dust was floating in the air and stuck to our catchers!"

Wrap-Up Circle (2 min)

Ask Students:

  • "Did we catch anything?" (Yes! Dust and particles!)
  • "Which place had the most particles?"
  • "What did the particles look like?"
  • "Were you surprised by what you found?"

Key Takeaway

We can catch the tiny things floating in the air using sticky surfaces! Different places have different amounts of particles. Scientists use tools like this to study what is in our air.

Teacher Tips

Timing

This lesson works best spread over two periods - make catchers in morning, observe in afternoon or next day.

Extension

Compare indoor vs. outdoor catchers. Which collected more? Why might that be?

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