Water Week

Maria 1y.5m.

We never know the worth of water till the well is dry. ~Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732

As most of the children Mary loves to take a bath, sometimes it is really hard to get her out of it. So, when I had a week off I decided to tell her more about the water – unique resource of our Planet, which is so vital for every living creature. I was telling her about the water and its place in the nature, about the ponds, seas, rivers and lakes. Of course, it was done with the help of presentations for children (e.g. http://900igr.net/kartinki/priroda/Voda-i-vodojomy.files/Vodoemy.html), books and showing it in real nature.

1. First, I told her about the water cycle showing it in the book: Water evaporates and forms clouds – the clouds provide rain and snow – which is collected in rivers, lakes, underground reservoirs, and oceans – that are the source for further evaporation. Mary enjoyed it a lot as she liked that the book was interactive: one had to match figures (e.g. sun, clouds) in the right place.

2. We conducted an experiment to observe water in its different aggregative states: we boiled the water and put a glass with a bit of water in the freezer.

3. We made an aquarium out of bottle (sorry, didn’t manage to take a photo). We cut PET bottle into two parts, put clay in one of the part and dented there my former beads =) and small stones. We used green cotton, which became weeds, and poured water inside. Aquarium became a centre of attention for the whole week – it was definitely a new experience for the small one!

4. Water games!
• The game Mary liked the most is also the simple one: to catch “fish” with the help of glass from the bowl and put it in another bowl. She played it for approx. 1 hour, what is veeery long for this age group.

• Pour water in a bowl and with the help of sponge put it in another bowl – interesting game, probably, for older children;
• Before Mary took the bath I worked a bit with two bottles. I made some hole in one bottle and int hte cap of another bottle. When Maria was taking a bath, I showed her new toys :) - I filled in the first bottle with the water and we together observed how water was running out through the multiple holes. Then, we filled in the second bottle with the water: it was much fun for both of us, we could sprinkle each other!
• We didn’t try it ourselves yet, but it should be interesting to have several bottles/containers with water, which are coloured in different colours. This is also good material to continue studying the colours.
• Another thing is to make an experiment to find what stays afloat and what drowns when one throws them in the bowl/bath etc.

5. Of course, we could not live without creative part. As Maria still likes a lot to work with cereals I suggested her that we make a fish out of it. Then, she also made an aquarium with green weeds (studied green colour), where glued several fish. On the bottom of the aquarium she put some clay where we dented beans and pasta, which depict pebble and shells.