Lesson 7 of 84 · Reaction Rates
Experiment⭐ 30 XP🧪 Potion KitchenDecomposers: Nature's Recyclers
Reaction Rates.
🎯 Your mission
Set it up. Test it. Be amazed.
⚡ The twist
If it bubbles, something invisible is escaping.
Mind = Blown
🧪 If you could remove all the empty space from atoms, the entire human race would fit in a sugar cube.
Make a hypothesis first
Guess: will the fizz be loud, soft, or none at all?
What You'll Learn
Decomposers like fungi and bacteria break down dead organisms and return nutrients to the soil. Without decomposers, dead material would pile up and nutrients would be locked away.
Key Words
- consumer
- decomposer
Materials Needed
- tape
- small pots
- cotton balls
- zip-lock bags
- labels
- seeds
Safety First
- Use materials only as directed in the experiment.
- Keep small objects away from young children.
- Work in a well-ventilated area when using vinegar or other strong-smelling substances.
Steps
Look at the vocabulary words and write a definition for each in your own words.
Collect and classify 10 organisms from your yard into kingdoms, phyla, or groups. Use a dichotomous key if available.
Note any unexpected results and think about why they happened.
Share your findings with the class or a partner and discuss what you learned.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 3Which stage comes after a caterpillar in metamorphosis?
Where you see this in real life
Your toothpaste, your soap, even your breakfast involves this.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Ask a grown-up to help you mix two safe kitchen things. Predict what will happen first.
For the dinner table
“What's something we cook that mixes things together this way?”
Next Smart Experiment
We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.
Share this experiment
Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.
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