Texas TEKS 5.6.B

Science5th GradeMatter and energy

The Standard

demonstrate and explain that some mixtures maintain physical properties of their substances such as iron filings and sand or sand and water

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students combine substances and observe each ingredient before and after mixing. They use evidence to explain which properties, such as color, texture, or magnetism, remain unchanged.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students can identify each substance in a mixture by its observable properties. They can explain how those properties help separate the substances.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think mixing always creates a new substance or changes every ingredient. They may also confuse dissolving with disappearing and assume a substance is no longer present.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Draw a sand and iron mixture, then explain how you could identify and separate each substance using its properties.

Lesson moves

Mix iron filings and sand, then use a bag-covered magnet to separate them and record which properties stayed the same.
Ask students to write: How can you prove sand remains sand after it is stirred into water?
Play a matching game that pairs mixture ingredients with useful identifying properties, such as magnetism, size, color, or texture.
Inspect a trail mix ingredient list and photo, then explain how each ingredient keeps its own color, shape, taste, or texture.

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