Mission Library

Divide and Conquer
Particles of Matter
5th Grade

The Mission
40 min

Storyline

Using their knowledge of particles, the crew will help Anja take down Déjà and her devious mutant plant operation.

Déjà is currently working on a top-secret project to create large mutant carnivorous plants and release them into society. Anja, an botonist ally of ours, is currently working undercover at Déjà's base to take down the operation, but she needs our help. She has called for our assistance to develop plans for how to shut down the operation once and for all. Teams will need to use their knowledge of particles to not only come up with a plan that meets their team's mission objective but also create a model of their plan on the particle level. Can the crew bring down Déjà's operation before being detected by security? Or will her security team catch on to the plans?

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3-Dimensional Science

Phenomenon

Matter is made of particles too small to be seen.

Science and Engineering Practices

Developing and Using Models

  • Collaboratively develop and/or revise a model based on evidence that shows the relationships among variables for frequent and regular occurring events.

  • Develop a model using an analogy, example, or abstract representation to describe a scientific principle or design solution.

  • Develop and/or use models to describe and/or predict phenomena.

  • Develop a diagram or simple physical prototype to convey a proposed object, tool, or process.

Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

  • Use evidence (e.g., measurements, observations, patterns) to construct or support an explanation or design a solution to a problem.

  • Identify the evidence that supports particular points in an explanation.

Crosscutting Concepts

Scale, proportion, and quantity

  • Students recognize natural objects and observable phenomena exist from the very small to the immensely large.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

PS1.A: Structure and Properties of Matter

  • Because matter exists as particles that are too small to see, matter is always conserved even if it seems to disappear. Measurements of a variety of observable properties can be used to identify particular materials.

Resources
Targeted Standards
Timeline
Skills in Action