EXPLORE, Part 1

Station Directions













































Station #1 Specific Heat Station

Directions: At this station there is a sample of water and sand with a
light over both samples.

1. Write down the following definition of SPECIFIC HEAT on
your nerd words sheet:

Specific heat is the amount energy it takes to change the
temperature of a substance.

(If something has a high specific heat it means it takes a lot of
energy to heat it up. If something has a low specific heat it heats
up easily)

2. Take the temperature of the sand with the thermometer.
Hold the position of the thermometer for about a minute.
Record your results on the class data sheet.

3. Take the temperature of the water with the thermometer.
Hold the position of the thermometer for about a minute.
Record your results on the class data sheet.

4. On your nerd words sheet, in the Draw box, draw a picture
to illustrate what you see happening at the station.

5. On your nerd words sheet, in the Example box, think of an
example from everyday life that relates to what you observed
at the station.

6. On your nerd words sheet, in the Sentence box, write a
complete sentence using SPECIFIC HEAT that addresses the
following question:

Are there differences in the temperature of water and sand?
What could account for these differences?

Clean-up: Clean and dry the thermometer before going to next station.
EXPLORE, Part 1
Station Directions


Station #2 Solvents and Solutes

Materials: 3 Petri dishes, water, oil, salt, and alcohol (has food coloring
added)

Directions:
1. Write down the following definition of UNIVERSAL SOLVENT
on your nerd words sheet:

A universal solvent is something that is really good at dissolving
other substances.

2. Fill each petri dish with water about full.

3. Add one pipette of oil to one petri dish. Observe what
happens.

4. Place one pipette of alcohol in the second petri dish.
Observe what happens.

5. Use a popsicle stick to add a very small amount of salt to the
third petri dish. Stir for 30 seconds. Observe what happens.

6. On your nerd words sheet, in the Draw box, draw a picture
to illustrate what you saw happen at the station.

7. On your nerd words sheet, in the Example box, think of an
example from everyday life that relates to what you
observed at the station.

8. On your nerd words sheet, in the Sentence box, write a
complete sentence using UNIVERSAL SOLVENT that
addresses the following question:

Why is water called the universal solvent?

Clean-up: Dump the contents of the petri dishes down the sink. Rinse
each petri dish.

EXPLORE, Part 1














































Station #3 Cohesion

Materials: 2 pennies, 2 medicine droppers, water

Directions:
1. Write down the following definition of COHESION on your
nerd words sheet:

Cohesion is water molecules sticking to each other.

2. Predict the number of drops of water you can drop on the
penny. Tell your group members your prediction.

3. Using the medicine dropper, drop as many drops of plain
water on the surface of a clean dry penny. Observe the
penny from the side. On your nerd words sheet, in the
Draw box, draw a picture to illustrate what you see.

4. Record the number of drops that the penny held before
overflowing.

5. On your nerd words sheet, in the Example box, think of an
example from everyday life that relates to what you
observed at the station.

6. On your nerd words sheet, in the Sentence box, write a
complete sentence using COHESION that addresses the
following question:

What do you think causes cohesion?

(Hint: Think about the first nerd word we did on your sheet!)

Cleanup: Dry the pennies. Clean up any spills.















Part 1
































Station #4 Surface Tension

Materials: petri dish, paperclips, paper towel

Directions:
1. Write down the following definition of SURFACE TENSION
on your nerd words sheet:

Surface tension is water molecules sticking together to form a thin
layer on the surface.

2. Fill the petri dish with water. Then use the beaker to pour
additional water into the dish until it is full to the brim!

3. Drop the paper clip into the water. Observe what happens.

4. Take the paper clip out of the water and lay it on the edge of
the petri dish. Gently push the paperclip onto the waters
surface. Observe that happens.

5. On your nerd words sheet, in the Draw box, draw a picture
to illustrate what you saw happen at the station.

6. On your nerd words sheet, in the Example box, think of an
example from everyday life that relates to what you
observed at the station.

7. On your nerd words sheet, in the Sentence box, write a
complete sentence using SURFACE TENSION that
addresses the following question:

Why does the paperclip float on the waters surface?


Cleanup: Dry all materials. Clean up any water spills.
















































Station #5 Density

Materials: bean, ice, water, beaker, triple beam balance


Directions:
1. Write down the following definition of DENSITY on your
nerd words sheet:

Density is how tightly packed the molecules are inside of a
substance. Things that are less dense than water float. Things
that are more dense than water sink.

2. Weigh a bean using the triple beam balance. Record the
weight of the bean on the side of your nerd words sheet.

3. Drop the bean in the beaker of water. Observe what
happens.

4. Weigh an ice cube using the triple beam balance. Record
the weight of the ice on the side of your nerd words
sheet.

5. Drop the ice cube in the beaker of water. Observe what
happens.

6. On your nerd words sheet, in the Draw box, draw a
picture to illustrate what you saw happen at the station.

7. On your nerd words sheet, in the Example box, think of
an example from everyday life that relates to what you
observed at the station.

8. On your nerd words sheet, in the Sentence box, write a
complete sentence using DENSITY that addresses the
following question:

Why does ice float?

Cleanup: Dry all materials. Clean up any water spills.






















EXPLORE, Part 1




















Station #6 Capillary Action

Materials: 3 beakers, wax paper, paper towels (not the brown school
paper towels), water

Directions:
1. Write down the following definition of CAPILLARY ACTION
on your nerd words sheet:

Capillary action is the movement of a liquid up through the pores
of a substance against the force of gravity.

1. Fill one beaker full with water, and one full with oil. Place a
piece of wax paper on the table under the beaker.

2. Place a strip of paper towels in each beaker. The tip of the paper
towel should barely touch the liquid in the beaker. Drape the strip
over the side of the beaker.

3. Observe what happens with each paper towel strip for 2 minutes.

4. On your nerd words sheet, in the Draw box, draw a picture
to illustrate what you saw happen at the station.

5. On your nerd words sheet, in the Example box, think of an
example from everyday life that relates to what you observed
at the station.

6. On your nerd words sheet, in the Sentence box, write a
complete sentence using CAPILLARY ACTION that
addresses the following question:

How do trees get water from their roots up to their leaves?

Cleanup: Clean up any spills. Throw away paper towel strips and wax
paper. Clean and dry the beakers for the next group.










































Station #7 Space Water!

Materials: computer, class website
Directions:

1. Watch each of the video clips posted on the teacher
website. As you watch, discuss with your group
members your observations of how water behaves in
space:

How is the way water behaves in space similar to how it
behaves on earth? How is it different?


























Station #8 Adhesion

Materials: Adhesion reading, graduated cylinder, water
Directions:

1. Write down the following definition of ADHESION on your
nerd words sheet:

When water molecules stick to another substance (besides
water)

2. Read over the paper at the station to learn about different
examples of adhesion. List some of these examples in the
EXAMPLE box on your Nerd Words Sheet.

3. Follow the directions on the paper at your station to create a
water slide using adhesion!

4. In the SENTENCE box, write a sentence using the word
ADHESION that addresses the following question:


How do water slides work?