Science Learning Guide
Water Kit
Vocabulary Words:
Water - a liquid earth material made of hydrogen and oxygen
Property - a characteristic of a material or an object; something that you can
observe such as color, smell and taste
Absorb - when water soaks into another material
Beads - when liquid sits on top of a material in drops
Surface tension - skin-like surface on water (and other liquids) that pulls it
together into the smallest possible area (sphere)
Dome - shape a drop of water takes when it is on a flat surface. It is like a
flattened hemisphere.
Expand – to get bigger; take up more space
Contract - to get smaller; take up less space
Sink - to go under water as a result of being denser than water
Float - to stay on the surface of water as a result of being less dense than water
Denser - when an object sinks it is denser than water
Less dense - when an object floats it is less dense than water
Evaporation - the process by which water disappears from a surface as it becomes
a vapor
Water vapor - the gaseous state of water
Seriate - to put objects in order by one property, like the amount of water left
Thermometer - a tool used to measure temperature
Surface area - the area of a liquid exposed to or touching the air
Condensation - when water vapor touches a cool surface and becomes liquid water
Water cycle - The sequence of condensation and evaporation of water on Earth,
causing clouds and rain and other forms of precipitation
Blade - the part of the waterwheel that the water pushes at it moves downward
Shaft - the part of the waterwheel that the blades turn
Water quality - The level of purity of a sample of water
Dissolve - to break down into particles so small when mixed with water that a
substance seems to disappear
Key Concepts:
Investigation #1: Water Observations

Water is absorbed by some materials.

Water beads up on some materials.

Water forms a dome on a flat surface.

Surface tension makes water form a sphere or dome.

Soap added to water reduces its surface tension.
Investigation #2: Hot and Cold Water

Water expands when heated.

Water contracts when cooled.

Warm water is less dense than room temperature water.

Cold water is denser than hot water.

Water expands and turns solid when it freezes.

Ice floats in liquid water; cold water from the melting ice sinks.
Investigation #3: Water Vapor

Wet materials become dry when exposed to air. The drying process is called
evaporation.

Water changes into a gas called water vapor, and goes into the air.

More evaporation happened where temperatures were higher.

Less evaporation happened where temperatures were cooler.

More water evaporates from containers with larger surface areas.

Less water evaporates from containers with smaller surface areas.

When water vapor touches a cool surface, it condenses into liquid.

Evaporation and condensation are part of Earth’s water cycle.
Water Cycle Diagram
Investigation #4: Water Works

Water soaks into some materials, like soil, and runs through others like
gravel.

A waterwheel is an axle with blades that are pushed by flowing or falling
water.

Different qualities of water are suited for different purposes.

Different materials dissolve in water and affect its quality.