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Basic 1 · Science · Materials

Mixtures

In this topic you will learn that a mixture is two or more things put together.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Explain what a mixture is
  • Give examples of mixtures
  • Make a simple mixture

What you already know

  • Solids, liquids and gases

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand
Diversity of matter
Sub-strand
Materials
Indicator
B1.1.2.3.1 – Demonstrate understanding that a mixture is two or more objects or materials put together

Introduction

Mother makes gari soakings. She puts gari, water, sugar and groundnuts in a bowl. They are all mixed together. This is a mixture.

1. What is a Mixture?

Mixture: Two or more things put together.

Mixtures we know

  • sand and water
  • rice and beans (waakye)
  • gari, water and sugar
  • stones and sand
A clear cup of sand and water being stirred
Figure 1: A sand and water mixture Draw the cup of sand and water.Illustration: Sirbus

2. Making a Mixture

Sand and water

  1. Pour water into a clear cup.
  2. Add some sand.
  3. Stir with a spoon.
  4. Leave it to stand. Watch the sand sink.

The sand and water are still sand and water. They are just mixed.

3. Separating a Mixture

We can separate some mixtures.

Pour sand and water through a clean cloth. The water goes through. The sand stays on the cloth.

Safety: Do not drink or taste a mixture in class.

New words

mixture
Two or more things put together.
mix
To put things together.
stir
To move a spoon round and round in something.
separate
To take things in a mixture apart.

Summary

  • A mixture is two or more things put together.
  • Sand and water make a mixture.
  • We can separate sand and water with a cloth.

Class activity: Make and Separate

  1. Make a sand and water mixture in a clear cup.
  2. Pour it through a clean cotton cloth into another cup.
  3. Look at what stays on the cloth.

You need: Sand, Water, Clear plastic cups, Clean cotton cloth

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. Which is a mixture?

    • A. Water only
    • B. Sand and water
    • C. A stone
    • D. A spoon
    Show answer
    Answer: Sand and waterIt has two things put together.

  2. 2. What can we use to separate sand from water?

    • A. A cloth
    • B. A ball
    • C. A pencil
    • D. A book
    Show answer
    Answer: A clothWater passes through; sand stays.

  3. 3. Rice and beans together make a mixture.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueIt is two things put together.

  4. 4. A mixture has only one thing.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseA mixture has two or more things.

  5. 5. Two or more things put together is a ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: mixtureThat is the meaning of mixture.

  6. 6. Name two mixtures you eat at home.

    Show answer
    Answer: E.g. waakye, gari soakings, jollof.Each one has many things mixed.

Homework

  1. Ask an adult to help you name the things mixed in a meal at home.