Properties of Water
Grade Level: 3rd Grade
Standard: E.FE.02.13 Describe the properties (visible, flowing, melting, dew)
of water as a liquid (lakes, rivers, streams, ocean).
Names: Megan Guiliani & Erin Ochs
THE TEACHING PROCESS
Lesson Overview
After completion of the lesson, students will be able to:
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Describe the properties of liquid water as visible, flowing, melting, and dew.
Define what are streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans.
List of Materials:
For
Visuals
Water
Cup
Ice
Foil
Pitcher
2 Straws
Pan
Other
Properties of Water
Worksheet
Water as a Liquid
Worksheet
Flip Book
Pencils
Crayons for Each Student
Scissors
Stapler
Staples
Phase One: Engage the Learner
A water bottle will be passed out to each student in the class. While they enjoy a fresh sip
of water they will be asked, “What are you drinking?”, “What is water to you?”, What is
your definition of water?” , “Where else do you see water; does it just come in bottles?”
This will begin a class discussion of water.
Phase Two: Explore the Content
~ Demonstrations ~
- Students may need to get out of their seats to get
closer to demonstrations done by the teacher -
 Visible:
A glass of water and ice will be presented to the class to explain that this is visible water; it
is water that you can see. As a class, we will discuss where we visible water is presented in our
everyday life. We will make a list as a class brainstorming ideas. Examples: rivers, lakes, ocean,
rain, pool, puddle, ice cube, class of ice, coming out of a faucet, bathtub, etc. It will then be
mentioned but not explained in depth that there is water in the air that is so tiny that you can not
see it, but it is there.
 Flowing:
For the first demonstration of flowing water, the materials that will be needed are a
pitcher, a bowl, aluminum foil, and water. It will be explained to the class that water as a liquid
can flow (unlike when it is a solid). It will be discussed as a class where flowing of water can be
found. Some examples may be: stream, river, ocean, lake, rain down on a window, out of a faucet,
etc. It will be explained that water flows down mountains. To show this, there will be a bowl on
the table. The aluminum foil will be held at an angle over the bowl while water from the pitcher
is being poured out onto the foil, flowing into the bowl. The foil represents the mountain sides.
Once the students see the flow of the water down the “mountain side” it will be explained
to the class that water flow can move around big objects in its way and move little objects. To
show that water can flow around objects, an object will be placed on the foil where the water is
flowing. They will then be able to see that the water does not stop, but continues to flow around
the object.
For the second experiment, materials needed are straws, water, and a pan. Fill the pan up
with water. It should be explained to the class that even though lakes and oceans are a big body
of water and do not move from one location, water is still flowing. We can see the flow of lakes
and oceans by the waves. To demonstrate this, use a straw to blow on the water in the pan. The
water will make ripples, representing waves in a body of water.
 Melting:
It will be explained to the class that water presented in a solid can be melted to a liquid.
Melting occurs when the temperature of the solid water is cooler than its surroundings. The
demonstration for melting will involve all the students. Each child will get their own ice cube and
place it into their hand. They will be told to close their hands, holding the ice cube so that it is
fully covered. It will be discussed with the students that the ice cube feels colder than their hand
because their hand is at a higher temperature then the ice. After holding the ice cube in their
hands for awhile the ice cube will begin to melt. As it melts water will begin to drip from their
hands. It will be explained that this water is the ice melting. The ice cube will continue to get
smaller and eventually all turn into water. There will also be an ice cube placed on a plate infront
of the class to come observe over time. This will show the students that the ice turns into water
in a liquid form. Since the water may drip down their arms as the ice cube disappears, the ice
cube on the plate will clear up confusing on the ice cube and water disappearing. The class
should discuss where they can find water that will melt. Some examples of this can be: ice cube,
snow, icicles, iceberg, etc.
 Dew:
This experiment will consist of a glass of water and ice cubes. The ice cubes should be
placed in the room temperature glass of water. Let it sit for a little while. Just like the melting
experiment, the students should come back to check on the glass. Over time water will begin to
form on the outside of the glass. It will be explained to the class that the cold liquid inside cools
the air near the outside surface of the glass. Moisture on the outside of the glass begins to form
into a liquid. This is why a cold glass of water, tea, or lemonade on a hot summer day seems to be
“sweating”. Examples of this should also be discussed with the class. Some examples discussed
may be: on a cold glass on a hot summer day, taking a container out of the freezer, water on a car
in the morning, water on the ground/grass in the morning, etc.
Phase Three: Explain the Concept and Define the Terms
Once all the demonstrations have been presented the students should return to
their seats for a class discussion. In the class discussion the students should be
introduced more in depth with the terms used to understand the properties of water as a
liquid.
Terms to be discussed:
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Visible: This is water that can be seen with the human eye.
Flowing: Water that is moving in one direction. Down a mountain. Waves
toward shore.
Melting: Water that turns from a solid to a liquid.
Dew: Water in the form of in small drops that cling (stick) to objects.
Stream: A flow of water smaller than a river.
River: A flow of water bigger than a stream (water usually flows faster in a river
than stream).
Lake: Large body of water, usually fresh water. Smaller than oceans.
Ocean: Large body of salt water that covers 70% of the earth. Larger than lakes.
During this stage the students will fill out their vocabulary sheet of the properties of
water as they are discussed with the class.
Phase Four: Elaborate the Concept
Stage five will be presented with the students completing the Water Properties worksheet
packet. This worksheet contains five pictures of different properties of water. They are to
color the water blue and on the line provided next to each picture write what phase the
water is in; visible, flowing, melting, or dew. There is a map page included in this packet.
With this worksheet, the students will identify lakes, livers, and oceans with different
colored crayons.
Phase Five: Evaluate students' Understanding of the Concept
During phase four students will be creating a Flip Book of the liquid properties of water.
The Flip Book has each property discussed in class (visible, flowing, melting, and dew)
labeled at the bottom of each page. Then on the lines provided above the term they will
write the definition of each term in their own words. They then will draw a picture of
each vocabulary term above the definition. They will be given time in class to work on
this project. They will be aloud to discuss their Flip book with other classmates in the
process of making the book. They will also share their flipbooks in a group of 3, sharing
the definitions of the properties of water they put in their own terms along with sharing
their drawings.
References:
 Meek’s Guides: Dew Point Experiments
http://www.astroscan.net/satelloid/experiments/weather/dew_point_experiment.pdf
 Free Printable Coloring Pages:
http://freeprintablecoloringpages.net/
 Scholastic: Fill-in Flip Books for Grammar, Vocabulary, and More (Grades 3-5)
By: Michael Gravois
 What’s the Weather?
Scholastic- Illustrated by: Jo Moon