Marshmallows, Mud Pies, and Messy Rooms

In the Marshmallows, Mud Pies, and Messy Rooms leveled reader, fundamental science facts in chemistry are explained through easily understood text and colorful, fun illustrations and photographs. Children discover that in chemistry a mixture is any two or more things mixed together. Mixtures can be made up of large things or things as small as molecules. For example, salt water is a mixture of salt molecules and water molecules. (Atoms and molecules are defined.)

Using the hands and using tools are different methods for separating mixtures. Mixtures of molecules can be separated using processes such as paper chromatography, filtration, or evaporation. Soap can be used to separate oil from water because a soap molecule has an oily end and a watery end. The oily ends of soap molecules attract oil molecules, causing the soap molecules form a ball around the oil, with the watery end of the soap molecules on the outside of the ball. This allows the soap molecules to interact with water, and the oil can be rinsed away.

Examples of mixtures we use every day are shown.

A pronunciation guide for scientific terms is included. 24 pages. Reading Level 1-3, Interest Level 2-5. Lexile measure 500L. Word count 302.