Water Science

Science with water...what else would you do then solid, liquid, and gas?
I love science and love when we have the time to do it.  I know science encompasses more then experiments but they are the most fun for preschoolers.

I gathered the materials.

• Ice cubes
• water
• boiling water (or water that I had just boiled)
• extra container

Before we started I asked the kids what is water?  (We had briefly talked about this during an above project.)  

They know that ice is frozen water, swimming pools, drinking water, and rain. The new think here was steam.  Evaporated water. 

I had no lesson plan telling me how to conduct this and my science loving fiance was not available to lead this one.  (Not that I am complaining)

I first let the kids examine the ice and the water.  I wanted to leave the lid on the pan until I was ready to go into more detail about the steam.  When their focus was on it because I knew it wouldn't last as long. 

They noticed the ice was cold and the water was not.  

While the ice was still in the cup I asked My Dragons what shape the ice was.  Rectangle. 

I poured the ice into the extra container.  What shape is the ice?  Rectangle.  It looks the same.  It is also hard, and cold. You can hold it.   We put the ice back in the cup. 

While the water was still in it's container I asked the same question, what shape is it?  Square. 

I poured the water into the extra container.  What shape is the water?  Rectangle. 

It changed. It did not keep its shape.  It is not hard or soft.  You can move it around with your hand but not pick it up.  Your hand also changes when you put it in the liquid.  It is wet.  When you touch (not hold) the ice- or solid- your hand does not change. 

We moved onto steam.  I laid down some ground rules first.  What to touch what not to touch.  Then I moved the lid.  There is no shape to the steam it floats up.  The dragons put their hands in it and could not grab it or feel it, except for the temperature.  Gas.  No form/shape.  Evaporated water in this case.

Soon they could no longer see it. 

Once they could no longer see the steam their interest was lost.  They wanted to play with the water and ice. 

 

And eat the ice.