A mixture contains two or more substances that are mixed together but not chemically joined. Because each substance keeps its own properties, we can separate them by physical methods that use a difference in those properties.
Filtration separates an insoluble solid from a liquid. The liquid that passes through the filter paper is the filtrate; the solid left on the paper is the residue.
Evaporation recovers a dissolved solid (the solute) from a solution by letting the liquid (the solvent) turn into a gas and escape. The solvent is not collected.
Distillation separates a liquid from a solution, or two liquids with different boiling points. The liquid is boiled, the vapor is cooled in a condenser, and the liquid collected is the distillate.
Magnetic separation pulls magnetic materials (such as iron, steel, nickel and cobalt) away from non-magnetic ones. Sieving separates solids with different particle sizes.
Paper chromatography separates dissolved substances, such as the dyes in an ink. A spot of ink is placed on a pencil line near the bottom of the paper, and a solvent soaks up the paper. Substances that are more soluble in the solvent travel further.
Safety: evaporation and distillation involve heating, so they are done in the school laboratory with your teacher.