A comprehensive 5th-grade unit wrap-up sequence focusing on states of matter, physical and chemical changes, mixtures and solutions, and identifying changes. It includes an immersive stations-based escape room challenge, a structured study guide, and a summative assessment.
Terminals lead to [ 4 ]
E: Baked Cookie
Dough heats up and solidifies.
Terminals lead to [ 5 ]
CHALLENGE TASK & OUTPUT DIGIT:
Follow the physical sequence starting from START. Which letter choices did you visit along your path? Trace carefully!
Find the letters representing physical change. Add up their alphabet positions (A=1, B=2, C=3, D=4, E=5) to yield your SECOND LOCK DIGIT.
KEY DIGIT =
B + D
TOP-SECRET MATTER CHALLENGE STATION 2 CARD
LAB MISSION CODE: SOLUTE
STATION 3: SEPARATING THE BREW
Module: Mixtures & Solutions
Chemical Dispenser Blockage
The main fluid separator has clogged! The dispenser contains a heterogenous mixture of iron dust, salt, and sand in pure water. To restart the flow, decipher the correct sequence of tools required to extract each part.
Solve the Separation Matrix:
Match the separation task to the appropriate lab tool and method. Write down the tool numbers in order of your procedure.
Tasks
Step A: Extract Magnetic Iron
Pull out all metals without adding liquid or dissolving substances.
Step B: Extract Solid Sand
Run the liquid mixture through a barrier to catch solid grain residues.
Step C: Extract Dissolved Salt
Evaporate the solvent (water) to leave behind crystals of solute (salt).
Available Lab Equipment
2
Filter & Funnel Trap sand grains
4
Evaporating Burner Heat water into gas
3
Neodymium Magnet Draw out iron shavings
CHALLENGE TASK & OUTPUT DIGIT:
Order your separation process: first remove the iron filings, then filter the sand, then boil the water to isolate the salt.
Arrange the tool numbers in order of your steps:
[ Step A ] [ Step B ] [ Step C ]
Subtract the third tool number from the first tool number to get your THIRD LOCK DIGIT.
TOP-SECRET MATTER CHALLENGE STATION 3 CARD
LAB MISSION CODE: ATOMIC
STATION 4: THE SEALED REACTOR
Module: Conservation of Mass
Reactor Core Overpressure
A chemical reaction is occurring inside a sealed test chamber. The reactants are combining rapidly, causing a gas release. To balance the pressure release valves, you must calculate the exact mass values using the Law of Conservation of Mass.
Reactant & Product Balancing Ledger:
Remember: Total Mass of Reactants = Total Mass of Products. Matter cannot be created or destroyed, even during high-energy reactions!
REACTION A: VINEGAR + BAKING SODA
100g of Vinegar reacting with 12g of Baking Soda.
Yields Carbon Dioxide gas and Sodium Acetate liquid.
TOTAL REACTANT MASS 112g
REACTION B: IRON + OXYGEN (RUSTING)
56g of Iron nails left outside rust completely in the rain.
After reacting with oxygen, the final rust flakes weigh 80g.
REQUIRED OXYGEN MASS [ X ] g
CHALLENGE TASK & OUTPUT DIGIT:
Solve for [ X ], the mass of oxygen consumed in the Reaction B.
Find the difference in mass of Reaction B:
[ 80g of Rust ] - [ 56g of Iron ] = [ X ]g of Oxygen
Sum the digits of value [ X ] together (e.g., if X = 25, add 2 + 5 = 7) to discover your FOURTH LOCK DIGIT.
TOP-SECRET MATTER CHALLENGE STATION 4 CARD
Liquid batter is mixed, heated in an oven, and rises into a spongy solid cake with small gas bubbles.
Physical Chemical
Scientific Evidence:
Scenario 10: Slicing an Apple
A whole apple is cut into pieces. Soon after, the white exposed flesh begins to turn brown.
Physical Chemical
Scientific Evidence (for the color change):
Part D: Real-World Scenarios & Conservation of Mass
The Closed Jar Investigation: A student places exactly 10 grams of sugar and 150 grams of warm water inside a tight-sealing glass jar. The total empty weight of the glass jar and lid is 120 grams.
11. What will the electronic scale display when the jar containing the completely dissolved sugar-water solution is placed on it? Show your mathematical calculation.
SHOW MATHEMATICAL CALCULATION:
FINAL BALANCE
[ ] g
12. Explain how the Law of Conservation of Mass applies to this dissolved sugar-water solution. Why doesn't the sugar "disappear" when it dissolves?
ELEMENTARY SCIENCE DISTRICT REVIEW PAGE 2 OF 2
Mod 2: Change Classification Table
Rusting = Chemical (Evidence: oxidation / permanent color change).
Slicing = Physical (Evidence: only altered shape & size).
Baking soda/vinegar = Chemical (Evidence: gas bubbling / fizzing).
Melting coin = Physical (Evidence: changes state, metal stays silver).
Mod 3: Mixtures, Solutions & Properties
[ B ] Copper wire = Conductivity.
[ A ] Sugar dissolving = Solubility.
[ D ] Shiny silver tray = Reflectivity.
[ C ] Neodymium bar = Magnetism.
Mod 4: Identifying Reactions
Conservation balance answer: Exactly 20g.
Reasoning: The bag is sealed, preventing the produced gas from escaping. Matter cannot be created or destroyed.
Practice Review Sheet Key & Rubric
PART A: VOCABULARY MATCH-UP
1. Solubility = F
2. Conductivity = A
3. Magnetism = C
4. Reflectivity = D
5. Solution = E
6. Mixture = B
PART B: STATES & PARTICLE ENERGY
7. Correct Choice: B (Particles move faster and slide past each other).
8. Particle Matrix:
Liquid Shape: No / Indefinite. Spacing: Moderate, sliding/flowing.
Gas Shape: No. Volume: No.
PART C: CLASSIFYING CHANGES
9. Cake: Chemical. Evidence: gas bubbles formed, permanent change of properties (cannot unbake).
10. Apple: Chemical (for the browning process). Evidence: permanent color change due to reaction with oxygen.
12. Explanation: Dissolving is a physical process where sugar particles separate and fit between water particles. No atoms are destroyed, so mass is perfectly conserved.
