Experiences & Outcomes within Planet Earth - Climate & Earth Science

Draft Outcome

I can investigate melting, freezing and boiling, and relate my findings to my everyday experiences, including weather. SCN 104D

Weather, Melting & Freezing

It is important for pupils to understand that water can be a solid, liquid or gas when investigating the effects of heating and cooling on water. The children will probably be familiar with making ice cubes from water and will be aware that when snow melts it turns to water. They will query where the water from the puddles goes to since they cannot see the water vapour in the air. The air around us is full of water molecules – think how much water appears on the windows as condensation on a cold morning – energetic, gaseous, water molecules hitting the cold surface give up their energy and return to the liquid form. The same happens when a drinks can is taken out of a very cold fridge – water molecules in the air suddenly hit the cold surface, lose their energy and become liquid water.

Some activities:

• Observe puddles of water in the playground ‘disappearing’

• Discuss how to change water into ice and what happens when water is heated.

• Record and explain what is seen when a drinks can is taken out of the refrigerator.

For more info. see  http://www.kidzone.ws/science/index.htm

Ice Is Nice

Improve observation and questioning skills through freezing and melting ice. Add water to an ice cube tray and set it in the freezer. Ask your pupils how long it will take to freeze. For variety, use different levels of water in different sections of the tray and get them to predict how long they will take to freeze. Set ice cubes on a table. Ask your pupils how long they will take to melt. Why do they melt? Place the ice cubes in different areas of the room. Do they melt faster in some places than in others? Why?

Astronomy