Elmo visits the New York
Museum of Water
By: Joelle DeVita
One day, Elmo and his friends decided to take a field trip to
New York’s Museum of Water
Its time
for our 1st
field trip!
They got on a bus and approached the museum. As they
realized that unless they have a tour-guide, they wouldn’t
understand the museum. So they found a tour-guide and
started heading through the museum.
The first exhibit they passed was about water
molecules. Vinny, the tour guide, explained that the
water molecule is made from 3 atoms. 2 hydrogen
and 1 oxygen atom. He explained that because
hydrogen and oxygen are non-metals, water is a
covalent bond.
“Hydrogen bonds form because water is polar. We will talk more
about that later but hydrogen bonds are bonds that form easily and
are very weak. Only little energy is needed to break these bonds.”
5
Let’s see what you’ve learned so far:
1) Water is what kind
of bond?
A)
B)
C)
D)
Ionic
Helium
Covalent
Oxygen
2) What two atoms form a
water molecule?
A) Helium and
oxygen
B) Hydrogen
and oxygen
C) Calcium
and sodium
D) Hydrogen
Correct
answer: C
Correct answer:
B
They also learned about cohesion and adhesion. “
Cohesion means working together.” said Elmo.
“That’s a good way to think of it Elmo. Water cohesion
means that water sticks to water, or that water works with
itself.
“Now, after knowing that, what do you think adhesion
means?” Vinny asked.
“Adhesion means that water sticks to other surfaces?” Big
bird thought.
“Right!” exclaimed Vinny.
Now that you know what adhesion and cohesion means,
let’s try a few examples.
A)
C)
B) Both
C) Cohesion
A) Adhesion
B)
The next exhibit they went to was the use of water. Vinny
told them about water being the Universal Solvent.
Vinny made sure to tell everyone that “ Universal does not
mean that water can dissolve everything, it simply means
that water can dissolve a lot of different things.”
“ What type of things?” asked Cookie Monster.
“ Sugar, salt, coffee beans, tea bags…”
“ Whoa! What doesn’t dissolve in water?” he asked.
“Not many things” said Vinny.
Water is known
as the ______
solvent?
A)
B)
C)
D)
Universal
Soft
Crunchy
Purple
Correct answer: A
Which of the following
was not listed as
something that
dissolves in water?
A)
B)
C)
D)
Sugar
Salt
Tea
Soda can
Correct answer: D
Next, Elmo learned about the water cycle. He learned
that transpiration and evaporation are the first step of the
cycle.
He was also told that in order to start precipitation,
or rain, you need to water evaporate.
Vinny explained all the steps of the water cycle. First,
evaporation and transpiration. Then, condensation and
precipitation. And last but not least surface runoff.
How many
steps are
there in the
water cycle?
A)
B)
C)
D)
1
15
5
9
Correct answer: C
In order for it
to rain, what
step of the
water cycle
needs to
happen?
A)
B)
C)
D)
Runoff
Fog
Smoke
Evaporation
and
transpiration
Correct answer: D
After the use of water cycle, Elmo returned to
water original exhibit.
“ Next, we will be talking about waters surface
tension.” Said Vinny.
“Surface tension is the property of water that allows
cohesion.” Said Vinny. “The molecules at the top of water
are pulled inward causing internal pressure. This pressure
causes a layer on top of water where things can stay still.
This is what makes a water spider a water spider!” He told
them.
What causes water
spiders able to stand on
top of the water?
A)
B)
C)
D)
Surface heat
Surface tension
Claws
None of the
above
Correct Answer: B
“ The next thing we are going to study is water’s density.
Density is defined as weight per unit of volume. Water’s
density is 1 g/ml. Anything more than 1 gram, will sink in
water.”
“Theres only one exception to this rule. That is
that water in solid form will float on water. This
rarely ever happens.” Vinny explained.
Water in ____ form will
Water has a density
of _ g/ml?
float on water?
A)5
A) Liquid
B) Hard
C) Solid form
D) Gas
Correct answer:
C)
B)1
C)17
D)8
Correct answer: B)
“ The next thing we’ll be learning about is capillary action and specific heat.
Capillary action..” Vinny told. “ Is water’s ability to climb up the roots of
plants. Or say, a paper towel.”
“Water’s specific heat is the amount of energy needed to heat one gram of
water by one degree Celsius. In other words, it’s the amount of energy
needed to make water one degree hotter.”
Water’s specific
heat makes it
hotter in Celsius.
True or False?
A) True
B)False
Vinny compared
capillary action to
what?
A)A dog
B) A person
C) A pencil
D) A paper
towel
Correct
answer: A)
Correct answer: D)
“ The last thing that we are going to talk about is water’s
polarity. Polarity means that water’s charge is not balanced.
Oxygen is negative while hydrogen is positive.”
Water
molecule
“ Thanks
Vinny!”
Fun Facts
•
•
•
•
•
It takes 2 gallons to brush your teeth.
25-50 gallons to take an average shower.
The average person uses 80-100 gallons per day.
75% of the earths surface is water.
The average person can only live a week without water.
Bibliography
http://www.nymw.org/about.html
http://www.themarysue.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sesamestreet.jpg
http://nanopedia.case.edu/image/water%20molecule.JPG
http://bioap.wikispaces.com/file/view/adhesion.jpg/107027229/adhesion.jpg
http://scienceprojectideasforkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/adhesion-water-drops.jpg
http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/2011/lehrer_brit/coheision%20and%20adhesion.jpg
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/wgifs/Watercycle.GIF
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Surface_tension_March_2009-3.jpg
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/PlantBio_img014.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3190/3058505609_b25efe1b94.jpg
http://staff.jccc.net/pdecell/chemistry/water.gif
http://www.njawwa.org/kidsweb/waterfacts/waterfacts.htm