Science and Math Water Inquiry Unit

In our Kindergarten class, students play with water daily.  Their experience with water is rich.  We activate prior knowledge daily at the water table.  I wanted my students to comprehend the big idea in physical science regarding properties of matter by observing water in a developmentally appropriate science investigation. The winter in New England is a perfect time to observe the fluctuant physical changes water goes through. Changes in our weather provide many opportunities to observe water in different states.  Students knew temperature affects water, as it constantly changes from state to state, but they had misconceptions about the amount of water as it goes through the water cycle.  Furthermore, through this planned learning sequence, students learned as water repeatedly undergoes changes, the amount remains the same, and the amount is comparable and measurable.

With students, I wrote everything down they knew about water onto a KWHL chart. Click on the link for a chart that has headings for printing.

We talked about what they wanted to know more about, and I wrote.  From the combined items on the chart of what they knew, what they wanted to know, and misconceptions they had, I formulated a focus question.  Students worked in groups of three or four. They gave their groups names that reflected water in different states i.e.: Snow, Rain, Ice, and Splash.  Each group planned and carried out an investigation to answer the focus question.

After the investigation was completed, students communicated using a variety of methods;  journals, drawing, group data recording sheet, graphing, charting, etc.
Their science notebook became a crucial piece in communicating what they gleaned from the investigation. 

From our KWHL chart our focus question was:

I wonder...        

Is there more, less, or the same

 amount of water  after it is frozen?

     The science notebook used during this Inquiry unit was an important assessment piece for the teacher and students during their investigation. The notebook helped students remember where they were in their investigation from day to day. It helped to create a home school connection and inform parents of the inquiry.  Students explained the steps of the investigation as they read their notebooks.  Parent commented on their childs understanding during the investigation.  If you would like to use the same Science Notebook, click on the pages below and feel free to print and create.

 What is Matter

Drippy The Raindrop

The Water Cycle

Water,
The Never Ending
 Story

The Wonders of Water

 
How many states of matter are there?    Click here to find out.

SFO Water Cycle
Lessons for teaching Water Cycle
Lessons include pictures.

Water Wonders 

Chem4Kids  Matter  

Liquid Water

Solid Ice

Gas Clouds

Plasma Inside the sun and stars

Bose-Einstein Condensate

Other sites maintained:

Kinder Squirt  Kindergarten Classroom Website
Planting A Literacy Garden  Using Comprehension Strategies in grades K-3
Carleworks      Using Comprehension Strategies with Eric Carle's books
Literacy Toolbelt  A website to help teachers of all levels incorporate the Reader's and Writer's Workshop model as they create units to help students learn content by understanding the design (McTighe)