Experiment #1 - Water Cycles (Cycles)

This is a simple yet effective experiment that helps your child to observe the water cycle pattern.

Materials:

1. An empty glass jar

2. A kettle/jug of hot water

3. A piece of cling wrap (enough to cover the mouth of the jar)

Step 1:

*ADULT: help to pour some hot water directly into the cool jar.

*CHILD: help to quickly cover the mouth of the jar with the cling wrap. Make sure there are no gaps. Be careful not to touch the body of the jar.

Step 2:

*OBSERVE: Almost immediately, you will notice that the inner surface of the cling wrap gets “cloudy”.

Step 3:

*OBSERVE: Observe again, after the jar has cooled down. (30 min – an hour)

*CHILD: Gently tap on the surface of the cling wrap.

*OBSERVE: Tiny water droplets formed on the inner surface of the cling wrap.

Step 4:

*LINK:

- water from the hot water acts like the Sun’s heat.

- Evaporation (heat gains) occurs.

- Condensation (heat loss) occurs when it comes into contact with the cooler inner surface area of the clingwrap.

- water droplets (clouds) are formed.  

- Clouds fall as rain (Precipitation) when they are unable to contain the water droplets.

- The cycle continues.

*MIND MAP:

- It is useful for students to draw out a mind map to link details so they can remember better.