Experimenting!

Today we explored the qualities of different materials and how they interacted with water.  We started by gathering knowledge, by painting thin and thick paints on a variety of types of paper:

-glossy magazines

-journal paper

-tin foil

-newspaper

-wax paper

We observed how these different kinds of paper absorbed our paints. 

We noted that the wax paper, magazine and tin foil were all smooth and shiny and that the watery paint beaded on top of the paper and did not absorb into it.   The thick paint stuck better than the watery paint to these surfaces. 

Next we did an experiment with 4 different fabrics to see which would be best to clean up milk that my very messy toddlers spill.   The children recorded information in a chart to help them organize their observations and made a prediction before we started our test.   The children compared the different fabric squares to the papers we used and to materials they have used at home.  For example, Nathaniel compared the blue fabric squares to towels he has at home.  To make it a fair test, we used measuring cups to "spill" the same amount of water and made sure our fabric squares were the same size.  

Children squeezed the fabric to see how much was absorbed, they noted how the fabric changed after wiping up spill (heavier, darker, dripping, water beading on outside) and many used their measuring cup to measure how much water was left over on our plates.  

I was so proud of the teamwork, collaboration and science discussion I heard!  

Tomorrow we will be doing a community walk to look for evidence of winter after lunch.