Mixtures and Solutions

A mixture is two or more substances that are mixed together but not chemically combined. The substances in a mixture each keep their own properties, and they can be separated into their original form. A bag of snack mix can be separated into raisins, walnuts, peanuts, etc. Mixtures are absolutely everywhere you look. Most things in nature are mixtures. Look at rocks, the ocean, or even the atmosphere. They are all mixtures, and mixtures are about physical properties, not chemical ones. That statement means the individual molecules enjoy being near each other, but their fundamental chemical structure does not change when they enter the mixture.

Solutions are composed of substances that mix so completely that they cannot be distinguished as separate substances. In a solution, the substance that dissolves is called the solute. The solvent is the substance in which the solute is being dissolved. Sugar is the solute and water is the solvent. A solution is usually a mixture of a solid that dissolves completely in a liquid (ex. Sugar in water).
Solutions are groups of molecules that are mixed and evenly distributed in a system. Scientists say that solutions are homogenous systems. Everything in a solution is evenly spread out and thoroughly mixed. Heterogeneous mixtures have a little more of one thing (higher concentration) in one part of the system when compared to another.

    

Comparing Mixtures and Solutions:

Here are some games to solidify these concepts:

Mixtures and Solutions Games

Mixture and Solution Jeopardy

Pirate Mixtures

Mixtures StudyJams

Mixtures and Solutions are used all the time when cooking. Discuss with your kiddo what portion of their meal is a mixture and what is a solution.

The Power of Ten

The Power of 10 is a concept we need to continue to work on. :)

Power of 10 - each place in a place value chart has a value that is 10 times as great as the place value to its right and 1/10th the size of the place value to the left.

When we write numbers, the position (or "place") of each digit
is important.

In the number 327:

·         the "7" is in the Units/Ones position, meaning just 7 (or 7 "1"s),

·         the "2" is in the Tens position meaning 2 tens (or twenty),

·         and the "3" is in the Hundreds position, meaning 3 hundreds.

"Three Hundred Twenty Seven"

	As we move left, each position is 10 times bigger!
	Example: Hundreds are 10 times bigger than Tens

... and ...

As we move right, each position is 10 times smaller.
From Hundreds, to Tens, to Units/Ones

But what if we continue past Units/Ones? What is 10 times smaller than Units/Ones?

¹/₁₀ ths (Tenths) are!

But we must first write a decimal point, so we know exactly where the Units position is:

"three hundred twenty seven and four tenths"

Here are some games to practice this skill:

Power of Ten Card Games

Power of Ten Practice

We will continue to work on this concept in small group. Let me know if you need any help!

Comparing Numbers

We have been comparing numbers in class using symbols and place value.

=	When two values are equal, we use the "equals" sign	example: 2+2 = 4
<	When one value is smaller than another, we can use a "less than" sign.	example: 3 < 5
>	When one value is bigger than another, we can use a "greater than" sign	example: 9 > 6

Less Than and Greater Than

The "less than" sign and the "greater than" sign look like a "V" on its side, don't they?

To remember which way around the "<" and ">" signs go, just remember:

• BIG > small
• small < BIG

The "small" end always points to the smaller number, like this:

                                      Greater Than Symbol: BIG > small

We use place value to help us compare numbers. We always look at the largest PLACE VALUE to determine which digit in the largest place value is larger or smaller. If the digits are the same, we move to the next place value. We continue this until we determine whether the numbers are greater than, less than, or equal to each other.

Here are a couple of videos that explain the process:

Study Jams Ordering Whole Numbers

Study Jams Number Lines

Comparing and Ordering Numbers to the Billions Place

Comparing Multi-Digit Numbers

Comparing and Ordering Whole Numbers

Here are some fun games that have you practicing these skills (be sure to click on the higher levels for the larger numbers):

Fruit Splat Comparing Numbers

Balloon Pop Ordering Numbers

Decimals

We have been working on decimals this week. We go to the hundredths place, but are aware that there are more decimal place values.

We will be able to illustrate decimals,

Compare and order decimals,

And relate decimals to money.

We will also practice writing them in standard form, word form, expanded form, and expanded notation.

Standard form: 31.25

Word form: thirty two and twenty-five hundredths

Expanded form: 30 + 1 + 0.2 + 0.05

Expanded notation: (3 x 10) + (1 x 1) + (2 x 0.1) + (5 x 0.01) or  3(10) + 1(1) + 2(0.1) + 5(0.01) 

Here are some of the anchor charts we use in class to help us with decimals:

        

Here are some fun songs that can help us remember all the place values that we are working with:

Place Value "Shake It Off" Parody

Place Value Rap

Decimals Song

Place Value Song

Here are some Study Jams videos that may help as well. Take the quiz after to see how you're doing!

Study Jams Place Value of Decimals

Study Jams Compare Money Amounts

Study Jams Decimals on a Number Line

Please let me know if you have any questions. Have a great week!