The ESP’s Interactions unit is a great follow-up to our Properties unit. Throughout the Interactions unit, students observe the chemical and physical interaction of objects.
An interaction occurs when one object changes or influences
another object. For example, when a red piece of candy is placed in
water, the candy will dissolve and the water will turn red. The candy
and the water have been changed by each other. The Science Kids website provides other examples of changes that occur when objects interact. The Bitesize website from the BBC also focuses on reversible and irreversible changes, dissolving and separating mixtures.
When a magnet picks up a steel paper clip, the magnet has an
effect on but does not visibly change the paper clip. The evidence of
interaction is the attraction that can be felt and observed between the magnet and paper clip.
Sometimes the interaction between objects is abstract or no evidence
of change can be seen. For example, a book resting on a table is
interacting with the table.
In this unit, students will be working with Ozalid Paper. To learn about it, check out the Ask Define website.