The Mysterious Powder

In science, we have been investigating a scenario/problem on a school playground that was brought to our attention.  There was a mysterious powder on the playground so we are putting our science skills to the test to see if we can figure out what it is.  We are currently examining 6 different powders that may be or be part of the mysterious powder.  Our science skills are getting sharpened as we get much more detailed in our observations.  For example, instead of just saying the powder is white we might call it a bright white or a yellowish white.  The students are doing a much better job with this and we are more easily coming to a class consensus!  We are also observing the smell, how it looks under a hand lens, how it sounds, how it behaves, and any other observations that they will help in their identification of the mysterious powder.