Global Winds Opening Demo
1. The teacher will elevate the plastic container or beaker, and fill it up half way with room
temperature water.
2. Teacher will add a few drops of blue food coloring to the cup of ice-cold water.
3. The teacher will then place a cup of hot water under the container holding the room
temperature water.
4. The teacher will have students summarize and provide examples of convection on their own
paper (this is required prior knowledge). Most correct answer: convection is the movement
caused within a fluid by the tendency of hotter, less dense material to rise. Colder, denser
material sinks under the influence of gravity, which eventually results in transfer of heat.
Examples of convection are boiling water, microwave heating and air conditioners.
5. The teacher will randomly call on three or four students to share out their summaries and
examples of convection.
6. If all of the responses are incorrect, the teacher will share out the most correct answer that is
written above. If students share out correct responses, the teacher will confirm their correct
answers.
7. Teacher will have students predict what they believe will happen to the icy cold blue water
when it is slowly poured into the container with the room temperature water that has the hot
water under the middle of the container providing heat.
8. Students will write their predictions and justify their responses on their paper.
9. Teacher will walk around and verify that all students have written their predictions and
justifications.
10. Teacher will then slowly pour the cold water into room temperature container. (Pour the cold
water down the left and right sides of the container.)
11. Teacher will have students write their observations on their paper. (Students should see the
cold, blue water sink and then begin to rise as it is heated by the hot water underneath the
container.)
12. Teacher will have students explain their observations in terms of convection on their paper.
(Possible answer: As the cold, blue water is added to the container, it sinks to the bottom of
the container. As it is heated by the cup of hot water, the blue water begins to rise, which
demonstrates convection.
13. Teacher will allow students to pair up and share their observations and justifications with
another student.
14. Teacher will randomly call on pairs of students to share out their observations and
justifications.
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