Will It Melt?

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Overview

This engaging, hands-on science investigation empowers a Year 6 student to explore the unique properties of a well-loved Australian treat — the Cadbury Flake. By attempting to melt a Flake under a variety of conditions, the student will develop scientific inquiry skills while making sense of states of matter and the particle model. The lesson includes visual, oral and practical components tailored to the needs of a student who experiences difficulty with writing.

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🧪 Subject Area: Science

Year Level: Year 6
Curriculum Strand: Science Understanding – Chemical Sciences
Content Descriptor (ACARA):
ACSSU095 – Changes to materials can be reversible, such as melting, freezing, evaporating; or irreversible, such as burning and rusting.

Science Inquiry Skills (ACARA):

• ACSIS103 – With guidance, pose clarifying questions and make predictions about scientific investigations.
• ACSIS104 – Identify, plan and apply the elements of scientific investigations to answer questions.
• ACSIS107 – Communicate ideas, explanations and processes using scientific representations.

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🎯 Lesson Objective

To explore whether a Cadbury Flake chocolate will melt under controlled conditions, and to investigate why this chocolate behaves differently from other chocolates when heat is applied.

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to:

• Make predictions about material behaviours based on prior knowledge.
• Conduct a simple yet rigorous scientific investigation using everyday materials.
• Observe and describe physical changes using appropriate science vocabulary.
• Reflect upon and communicate findings through speech and optional drawing or verbal recording.

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🕛 Duration

60 minutes

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👩‍🏫 Learner Profile Considerations

• Learning support: The student benefits from reduced writing tasks and greater use of oral/visual expression.
• Home-based flexibility: Task can be done in a kitchen, backyard or other child-friendly environment.
• Multi-age setting: A curious 4-year-old sibling could join observational segments for simplified discussion or sensory participation.

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📝 Materials Needed

• 1 Cadbury Flake bar
• 1 small piece of regular milk chocolate (for comparison)
• Hairdryer (or heat gun with adult supervision)
• Saucepans / hot water bath
• Frying pan or oven (parent-assisted, for high heat test)
• Timer/stopwatch
• White plate or baking paper
• Paper towel
• Worksheet template with observation boxes (optional)
• Drawing materials or iPad for verbal recording/photos
• Thermometer (optional, for temperature tracking)

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🧭 Lesson Outline

1. Introduction & Predict (10 minutes)

Teacher prompts (verbal or visual):

• “Have you ever noticed what happens when chocolate melts in your hand?”
• “What do you THINK will happen if we try to melt a Cadbury Flake?”

Activity:

• Student makes a hypothesis by choosing one or more options:
  • “It will melt like other chocolate”
  • “It will stay the same”
  • “It will burn”
• Option to verbally explain or draw predictions.

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2. Background Knowledge (5–10 minutes)

Discussion prompts (can be adapted as a slideshow, drawing support or short video):

• What is chocolate made of?
• How does heat change matter?
• What does “melt” really mean?

Explain: Melting is a reversible physical change where solids turn into liquids when heated.

Key concept: Flakes have tiny chocolate strands with lots of air spaces. This might impact melting.

Optional modelling: Crumple paper tightly and compare with fluffy tissue to show heat flow and density.

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3. Investigation: Will It Melt? (25 minutes total)

Set-Up:

Create 3 test stations where a small piece of Cadbury Flake and regular chocolate are exposed to different heat sources.

Station 1: Hairdryer
Hold the Flake and regular chocolate on a plate. Heat each with a hairdryer for 2 minutes. Observe.

Station 2: Boiling water bath
Place chocolate pieces in small containers in hot water. Observe changes over 5 minutes.

Station 3: Frypan or oven tray (adult-led)
Place chocolates on baking paper in a warm oven (low temp 100°C). Check every 2 minutes.

Observations:

• Use feelings words: sticky, soft, runny, firm.
• Option to voice record or dictate observations.
• Student can tick boxes or use emojis instead of writing full sentences.

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4. Conclusion & Communication (10 minutes)

Reflection prompts:

• “What surprised you?”
• “Why do you think the Flake didn’t melt the same way?”
• “What would you do differently next time?”

Key conclusion: Flake chocolate doesn’t melt easily because of its structure — it’s made of layers of chocolate that crumble instead of holding together as it heats.

Ways to present findings:

• Oral: make a mini science show for the family
• Visual: create a before-and-after drawing of the chocolate
• Digital: record a video explanation or take photos with labels

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5. Extension Options (Optional)

• SCIENCE LINK: Research the ‘fat bloom’ in chocolate or how chocolate manufacturers temper chocolate.
• DESIGN LINK: Can you invent a lolly resistant to summer heat? How would it feel/taste/look?
• ENGLISH LINK: Write or dictate a creative story — “The Chocolate That Wouldn’t Melt”.

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🔁 Adjustments & Differentiation

• Reduce written load: student can use voice or drawing to record thinking
• Assistive tech: use iPad/tablet for visual instructions and speech recording
• Visually clutter-free template for simple data recording
• Sibling can be involved as a “scientific assistant” or “photographer”

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🔗 Curriculum Connections

Science Understanding

• ACSSU095: Demonstrates that changes to materials can be reversible (melting chocolate) or not.

Science Inquiry Skills

• ACSIS103: Student forms a testable question based on everyday experience.
• ACSIS104: Student conducts a fair investigation with controlled variables.
• ACSIS107: Student communicates findings through multiple formats, not limited to writing.

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🧠 Teacher Wow Factor

• Surprising but accessible science in your own kitchen
• Encourages curiosity and questioning — not just answers
• Scaffolded for non-writers and multi-age learners
• Taps into a real-world mystery — the infamous “Flake doesn’t melt!” debate
• Absolutely delicious sensory learning experience!

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✅ Assessment (Formative)

• Evidence of participation in prediction, observation, and reflection.
• Can the student describe what melting is?
• Can the student identify how the Flake changed across different heat sources?
• Did the student engage in the inquiry process (question → test → conclusion)?

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🍫 Final Thought

Teaching science doesn’t require a lab coat or expensive equipment — just curiosity, everyday objects (like chocolate!), and an open-ended question. This lesson is as rich and layered as a Cadbury Flake.

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Feel free to adapt supported reading materials, visuals or vocabulary as needed for your learner’s profile.