Scoop Science Planner Scoop Science
Flavor Lab Planning Guide
Scientist:
Date:
LAB MISSION: Explore: Investigating Mixtures
Welcome to the Flavor Lab! Today, you are a food scientist. Your mission is to investigate how different substances combine. Follow these steps to plan your 3 unique ice cream creations in your science notebook.
1
The Base Liquid (Solutions)
Every ice cream starts as a Solution. This is a special kind of mixture where one substance dissolves into another and looks the same throughout.
Notebook Entry #1:
Identify your ingredients for your base:
• What Liquid base will you use? (Milk, Cream, Dairy-free)
• What Solid will you dissolve into it? (Sugar, Cocoa, Salt)
• Compare: How does the appearance change after mixing?
The Solution Lab
Draw a "Before & After" diagram of your solid dissolving into your liquid. Use dots to represent the tiny particles of matter!
2
The Mix-In Mashup (Mixtures)
Now you will create a Mixture. A mixture contains two or more substances that are mixed together but can be easily separated. You can still see the individual parts!
Notebook Entry #2: The Recipe Grid
Plan 3 "Creations" by mixing different solids into your solution base.
Creation A
Creation B
Creation C
Critical Thinking: Why is the ice cream base a SOLUTION but the chocolate chips in it are a MIXTURE? Explain in your notebook.
3
Explore: Conserving Matter
The Law of Conservation
In our lab, we study Matter—anything that has mass and takes up space. Even when we mix things, matter cannot just disappear!
Matter Conservation means the total mass stays the same.
MASS BEFORE = MASS AFTER
Notebook Entry #3: The Mass Challenge
Prove the Law of Conservation for your most extreme creation! Use imaginary "Lab Grams" to calculate the total mass of your final treat.
A
Mass of Ice Cream Base Solution: g
M1
Mass of Mix-in 1: g
M2
Mass of Mix-in 2: g
Total Matter Mass
Sum of (Base + M1 + M2)
g
Final Lab Prompt:
In your notebook, write a "Scientific Claim" explaining why adding toppings to the ice cream changes the flavor and texture but DOES NOT change the total amount of matter.
4th Grade Science • Unit: Matter & Mixtures Instructional Guide Lab-SC-04-A
Scoop Science Slides Scoop
Science
Exploring Mixtures & Solutions
What is Matter?
Anything that has mass and takes up space.
Liquids
Solids
Gases
🍨
Wait... is ice cream matter?
The Base: Solution
A Solution is a mixture where one substance dissolves into another.
It looks the same throughout.
The tiny particles of the solid spread out evenly in the liquid.
Milk + Sugar = Solution!
The Mix-Ins: Mixture
A Mixture is made of two or more substances that can be easily separated.
You can see the different parts!
They don't dissolve. They just hang out together.
Ice Cream + Chips = Mixture!
Compare: Which is which?
☕
Cocoa Powder + Milk
Dissolved & Combined
Solution
🥣
Cereal + Milk
Floating & Separated
Mixture
Matter Conservation
Matter cannot be created or destroyed.
Base Mass
100g
Topping Mass
50g
=
Total Matter
150g
Notebook Mission
1
Plan Your Base
Choose your solution ingredients and draw a diagram.
2
Mix It Up
Create 3 unique mixtures and compare them to your base.
3
The Weigh-In
Do the math to prove that matter is conserved!
Let's Get Scooping!
Scoop Science Teacher Guide Teacher Scoop Guide
Lesson: Mixtures & Solutions (Grade 4)
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Explore: Investigating Mixtures by differentiating between solutions and basic mixtures.
• Compare physical properties of ingredients before and after mixing.
• Prove Matter Conservation by calculating the total mass of a mixture.
MATERIALS NEEDED
• Digital Scale (if doing the lab hands-on)
• Student Notebooks
• Ingredient Options: Milk, Sugar, Cocoa, Chocolate Chips, Sprinkles, Fruit
• Small mixing cups/spoons
Instructional Flow
1
Launch & Introduction (10 mins)
Use the Scoop Science Slides to introduce vocabulary: Matter, Solid, Liquid, Solution, and Mixture. Use the "Cereal vs Cocoa" slide to check for understanding.
2
Guided Planning (15 mins)
Hand out the Scoop Science Planner. Guide students through "Notebook Entry #1". Discuss how the sugar "disappears" (dissolves) into the milk, creating a solution.
3
Flavor Experiment (20 mins)
Students work in pairs or independently to "design" their 3 creations in their notebooks. If doing this live, they should measure masses. If purely a planning activity, they assign "imaginary grams".
NOTEBOOK ENTRY GUIDELINES
Entry #1 (Solutions):
Expect diagrams showing particles spread out. Key vocabulary: Dissolve. Comparison: "The base solution looks like plain liquid, but it tastes sweet/chocolaty."
Entry #3 (Conservation):
Math check: Ensure [Base Mass] + [Mix-in 1] + [Mix-in 2] = [Total Mass]. Common error: Students thinking mass decreases if a solid "dissolves". Remind them: Matter is still there!
Critical Inquiry Prompts
Deep Dive: The Solution
"If we heat up the ice cream base solution, would it dissolve the sugar faster? Why?"
Deep Dive: The Mixture
"If we melt the ice cream, is it still a mixture? Can we still separate the chocolate chips?"
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS
• Vanishing Act: Students often think matter "disappears" when it dissolves in a solution. Emphasize that the mass of the solution is the sum of both the liquid and the solid.
• Mixture vs. Solution: Clarify that ALL solutions are mixtures, but not all mixtures are solutions. Solutions are "well-mixed" and appear as a single phase.
© 2026 Scoop Science Curriculum Teacher Resource SC-04-T
