Candle Drop

Carrie Leisch, Centerville Elem. School (ISD 12), Centerville, MN

Based on activity found at:
http://www.wonderquest.com/falling-candle.htm
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Summary

By using this discrepant event, students will be guided through an investigation using a burning candle in a jar. The teacher will hold a burning candle in a jar over his/her head. When dropped, the candle will extinguish when caught. Why does this happen? Students will form a hypothesis, brainstorm experiments, and observe demonstrations to explore this phenomenon.

Learning Goals

This activity is designed get kids thinking by using a discrepant event. They will predict, observe and communicate why the candle extinguished when caught

Context for Use

This lesson will be used in my 5th grade science classroom. I teach two 35-minute sections, 4 days a week. There are approximately 27 students in each class. Students have had limited experience with conducting their own investigations. I assume this will be a 1-day plan.

Description and Teaching Materials


Materials Needed:
One large jar with candle for demonstration
Various sized jars with covers and various sized candles that will burn within jars
Nails, clay, or corks to secure candle to inside cover
Matches
Science Notebook

Procedure:
  1. As a class, light a candle and place inside sealed jar. Predict, discuss, and record time it takes candle to extinguish. Students should record time and reasoning in science notebook. This time will be referred to throughout demonstrations.
  2. Hold candle in jar overhead. Ask students to predict what will happen to the burning candle when jar is dropped. Students should record prediction in science notebook.
  3. Relight the candle, ask for a student volunteer to drop jar, catch jar. Repeat.
  4. Students record observations. Discuss.
  5. Ask students to brainstorm ("design") an experiment that could prove their prediction. Ideas could be using smaller jars, bigger jars, varying timings, rolling the candle/jar, moving it on a cart of scooter, swinging it, dropping from various heights, or using a match rather than a candle (something without wax). Some students might like to see a candle attached to a lid, without the jar, dropped to note effects.
  6. Teacher, with student assistance, can demonstrate each prediction. Discuss observations as each idea is conducted. Student can record observations on a T-Chart in their science notebooks.


Teaching Notes and Tips


Assessment

Students will answer these questions in their science notebooks:
1. Why did the candle extinguish as it fell?

Standards

Grade 5 MN Academic Standards
Inquiry Science K-6
1B5: The student will understand the process of scientific investigations.
Physics Science K-6
1A5: The student will understand that communication is essential to science.

References and Resources