| WATER
MODULE MATRIX |
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SYNOPSIS |
SCIENCE
CONTENT |
THINKING
PROCESSES |
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1. |
WATER
OBSERVATIONS
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Students
investigate properties of water. They compare the way water
interacts with four different surfaces, observe the property
of surface tension, and investigate how to change this property.
They compare the rates of different amounts of water flowing
downhill. |
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Water has several observable properties, including transparency,
shapelessness, and movement or flow.
• Water beads up on some materials and is absorbed by
other materials.
• Surface tension is the skinlike surface of water that
pulls it together into the smallest possible volume.
• Water flows downhill. |
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Observe and compare water on a variety of surfaces.
• Observe and compare rates of water flow.
• Describe and communicate observations. |
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2. |
HOT
WATER, COLD WATER |
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Students
observe the properties of water as it is heated, cooled, and
frozen. They make a water thermometer and find that water expands
as it is heated. Students compare the density of water at different
temperatures and find that warm water is less dense than cool
water, and ice is less dense than liquid water. |
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Water expands when heat is added.
• Water contracts when heat is taken away.
• Cold water is denser than warm water.
• Water is densest at 4°C.
• Ice is less dense than liquid water.
• A solid has a definite volume and shape; a liquid has
only definite volume. |
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Observe and compare the interaction of water at different temperatures.
• Observe and describe the properties of water in two
states, solid and liquid.
• Communicate observations about water. |
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3. |
WATER
VAPOR |
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Students
are introduced to water vapor and evaporation. They explore
the effects of environmental conditions and surface area on
rates of evaporation. They set up condensation chambers and
consider how evaporation and condensation contribute to the
water cycle. |
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Evaporation is the process by which liquid water changes into
water vapor, a gas.
• Temperature affects the rate of evaporation.
• The surface area of a liquid affects the rate of evaporation.
• Condensation occurs when water vapor touches a cool
surface and changes into liquid.
• Evaporation and condensation contribute to the movement
of water through the water cycle. |
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Observe evaporation and condensation.
• Compare rates of evaporation under different conditions.
• Organize results from evaporation investigations.
• Describe and communicate observations. |
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4. |
WATER
WORKS |
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Students
compare what happens when water is poured through two different
earth materials, soil and gravel. Students construct a waterwheel
and use it to lift objects, learning about the power of water.
They collect water from local sources, examine its properties,
and are introduced to the concept of water quality. |
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Some earth materials absorb more water than other earth materials
do.
• Water flows more easily through some earth materials
than through others.
• Flowing water can be used to do work.
• Water contains different materials that affect its quality.
• Evaporation can be used to detect materials dissolved
in water. |
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Observe and compare movement of water through different materials.
• Observe water power.
• Organize results of investigation of water samples. |
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