Carl Von Linne Elementary School ~ TLCF Grant Project: Grocery Store

Penny Questions

What can you use to clean dirty pennies?  You will experiment with five different ingredients to get your answer.

Ingredients

water (W)

soap and water (SW)

salt (ST)

vinegar (V)

vinegar and salt (VS)

Rubric

As young scientists, it is important to listen and observe. Click here to find out exactly what is expected.

To begin, let's follow these steps:

1.  Using a magnifying glass, look closely at your penny.  What year was it made?

2.  Now, using a white sheet of paper, fold it in thirds.

3.  On the top third, write down: Things that I need.

4.  In the middle part of the paper, write down:  What Happened?

5.  The bottom third will read:  How did it end?  This is the grand finale where you see for yourself, exactly what "cleans" the dirty penny.

6.  Place your "dirty" penny in the bowl #1 with the water (W). Stir the penny around in the bowl. Remove the penny. Is it clean? Let's see what happens when we try the next bowl!

7.  Place your "dirty" penny in the bowl #2 with the soap and water (SW). Stir the penny around in the bowl. Remove the penny. Is it clean? Let's see what happens when we try the next bowl!

8.  Place your "dirty" penny in the bowl #3 with the salt (ST). Stir the penny around in the bowl. Remove the penny. Is it clean? Let's see what happens when we try the next bowl!

9.  Place your "dirty" penny in the bowl #4 with the vinegar (V). Stir the penny around in the bowl. Remove the penny. Is it clean? Let's see what happens when we try the next bowl!

10.  Place your "dirty" penny in the bowl #5 with the vinegar and salt (VS). Stir the penny around in the bowl. Remove the penny. Is it clean?

11.  In the middle section of your paper, use pictures to show all five of the ingredients and show the penny going into each bowl with arrows.  It is a good idea to use beginning sounds when labeling the bowls/ingredients.  (Example:  SW for soap and water.)

12.  The bottom part of your science chart will show a picture of the mixture that actually took the "dirt" off the penny.  Show yourself and the expression you had on your face when you took that once dirty penny out of the last mixture, the vinegar and salt.  Don't forget to also draw a bright, shiny penny!