Bring evaporation right into the hands of young scientists with an entertaining, hands-on activity. Investigators view videos and images while participating in class dialogue focused on water evaporating from surfaces. A short experiment allows group members to make predictions about water's behavior before the activity concludes with a discussion connecting observations to the water cycle.

Concepts

molecules, the water cycle, water, water molecules, evaporation, weather, weather patterns

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Instructional Ideas

• Group pupils into teams for a collaborative learning experience
• Have scholars write a postcard from the viewpoint of an escaped water molecule to describe what happens when puddles dry up

Classroom Considerations

• Requires some set up before beginning
• Keep paper towels available to dry hands and clean up spills
• Activity is the second in a six-part Inquiry in Action series

Pros

• Links science concepts to observable real-world scenarios
• Contains suggested question prompts to facilitate group discussions 

Cons

• None