Learning Activities

From www.See-the-Sea.org, created by See the Sea, Charitable Foundation

 

ACTIVITY NAME:

Oil & water do not mix

SUBJECT:

 Science

GRADE LEVEL:

 4 - 6

ESTIMATED TIME:

 30 - 45 minutes

BACKGROUND:

 Read about oil pollution in our Toxic Pollution section together with your students.

OBJECTIVE:

 To show that oil and water do not mix.

KEYWORDS:

 pollution

MATERIALS:

 empty soda bottle

blue food coloring (or other colors, if preferred)

about 8 oz light colored vegetable oil
TEACHER TIPS: Food coloring may be purchased at the supermarket in a package with multiple colors (red, yellow, blue and green). Blue food coloring may be purchased separately in larger bottles from a restaurant supply store (such as Smart and Final).

To cut down on cost and disposal of used oil, one "Wave in a Bottle" could be made by the teacher and shown as a demonstration.  Please note that the shelf life of different oils vary. Please separate the oil from the water after the activity for re-use or for oil recycling and recycle the plastic bottle.

PROCEDURE:

 1.  Clean and remove the label from a 16 oz. soda bottle.

2.  Fill the bottle half full with tap water.  Add a few drops of blue food coloring.

3.  Fill the rest of the bottle with oil.  Screw the lid tightly onto the bottle.  (You may want to glue the bottle shut to prevent accidental leaks.)

4.  Ask the student to gently shake the bottle from side to side.  

QUESTIONS:
  1. Do oil and water mix?
  2. The blue colored water represents the ocean and the vegetable oil represents oil from pollution.  Why do you think it is important not to pour oil down the drain?
  3. Where does ocean oil pollution come from?
  4. Give some ideas about how we can reduce oil pollution.