Russell Boulevard Elementary 5th grade teachers Kara Johnson and Josh Smith split their students into teams to explore how all matter is made up of small invisible particles too small to be seen and how materials can be identified by their properties. Then students tested their theories by combining substances and observing the reactions. 

The students used a Mystery Science lesson called, “What do Fireworks, Rubber, and Silly Putty Have in Common?” 

Students used materials like vinegar, baking soda, glue, milk, and borax to determine which substances create a chemical reaction when combined.