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Marvellous Materials – Puddle Observation
Objectives
To explore the properties of water by observing puddles.
To make predictions and recordings.
Resources
Wellies | Puddles (or water) | Chalk
Vocabulary
water | puddle | evaporation | bigger | smaller | materials | properties
Today's Lesson
What to Get Ready
Ahead of the lesson, locate some puddles outside or make some by pouring water on the ground. If there are many large puddles, your student may need to have their wellies with them.
If you live in a particularly hot climate where any puddles may evaporate quickly, create the puddles with your student present, so they can observe how they evaporate (dry up).
Introduction
Ask your student to talk to you about puddles - anything they know about them, where to find them, typical puddles on a route to the shops, and so on.
Then take your student out, in their wellies, to explore and play in them (see above if you live in a particularly hot climate).
Speaking and Listening
After a while, say:
- ‘Now that you have had a good splash let's have a think about the puddles. I've got some questions to help you.’
- ‘What material are puddles made of?’ (water)
- ‘How big was the puddle at first?’
- ‘Is it bigger or smaller now?’
- ‘Do you think it will change?’
Encourage your student to think about the connection between the weather and the puddles, by asking:
- ‘If it is sunny, do puddles stay the same size? Why not?’
- ‘If it rained later, what would happen to the puddles?’
Ask your student to consider this question:
- ‘How can we see if the puddle will change?’
Ask your student to talk to you about their ideas.
Practical
Give your student the chalk and ask them to draw around a puddle. Make a note of the time when you did this and suggest that you come back to check on the puddle size later on. (If you live in a hot climate where the puddle will dry up quickly, ask your student to observe what happens to the puddle there and then.)
Ask:
- ‘What do you think we will find when we check the puddle later?’
- ‘Will the puddle be bigger or smaller? Or will it stay the same?’
Go back outside at regular intervals to see what has happened to the size of the puddle.