Year 5 Science: Investigating Dissolving

This week in Year 5, we explored the fascinating topic of dissolving in our science lessons. The children were introduced to some key scientific vocabulary — soluble, insoluble, solution, and dissolving — and had the opportunity to see these ideas in action through hands-on investigation.
We began by discussing what it means for a material to dissolve in a liquid. The class learned that when something dissolves, it doesn’t disappear. We also talked about how dissolving is different from melting: while melting happens when something changes from a solid to a liquid because of heat, dissolving involves a solid mixing evenly into a liquid to form a solution.
The children then planned and carried out a fair test to find out which materials could dissolve in water. They carefully considered the variables in their experiment — identifying which one they would change (the material being tested) and which they would keep the same (the amount of water, the temperature, and the time spent stirring) to make sure their results were accurate and fair.
We also discussed the importance of working safely in science. The children made sure to handle all materials with care, follow instructions closely, and clean up any spills straight away. This helped ensure that everyone could take part safely and that the experiment was carried out accurately.
By the end of the lesson, the classroom was full of excitement and curiosity as we compared our findings and talked about what we had discovered. To finish, we asked the children to explain what the words soluble, insoluble, solution, and dissolving mean — helping to check their understanding and reinforce their new scientific vocabulary.