What happens with water molecules when they freeze?

Description of the activity

The experiment took place in Tallinn's "Asunduse" kindergarten of pre-schoolers, where

the age ranged from 5-7 years.

The conductors of the test were the teachers Eneli & Kristel. In total there were 15

children, 7 of them being boys and 8 girls.

Means used on the research experiment: plastic cups, straws, coffe beans, butttons,

wáter, rubber bands

Used literatura:

Murulaid, R., Piirsalu, E., Vacht, P. , Vaino, K.; Loodusõpetus 7. klassile; [2016];

Estonia

Available online: http://opik.fyysika.ee/index.php/book/view/21#/section/8604

Tännan., M.; Loodusõpetus 7. klassile. Sissejuhatus füüsikasse ja keemiasse; [2010];

Estonia.

Jääaja keskus; Jääaja keskuse õppematerjal. Jää on külmunud vesi; [2016];

Available online:

http://jaaaeg.ee/failid/dokumendid/keskkonnaharidus/jaaajakeskuseoppematerjalid/01_j

aa_on_kulmunud_vesi/01_infomaterjal_jaa_on_kumunud_vesi.pdf

All discussions during the projcet were based on using Socratic method. Socratic

method means teachers asked children a progression of seemingly innocent questions

that ultimately led the respondent to a logical conclusion that was incompatible with

that children's originally stated belief.

In total it took 24 hours including: preparation, acquiring the supplies, research,

excecuting the experiment, children drawing pictures regarding the experiment,

conclusion.

Purpose of the research

Purpose of the research project was to get to know what happens with water molecules

when they freeze and from what it depends on how fast water freezes.

Elaboration and preparation of the research activities

First teachers studied the topic. Teachers made notes, consulted with each other,

planned activities, looked for the necessary means and made the order to go through the

planned activities.

One day before the experiment, the teachers asked the children what they think how

water molecules move when they are frozen and on what it depends how fast they

freeze. Teachers asked children to draw a picture of that.

On the experiment day teachers went to the classroom of the group earlier to put out all

the needed means and to awaken an interest in starting activities with children.

Children knew before the experiment, that when they put water to a cold place, it

freezes.

Description of the methodology used

Beginning in the 1970s, Novak and his research team at Cornell developed the

technique of concept mapping as a means of representing the emerging science

knowledge of students. It has subsequently been used as a tool to increase meaningful

learning in the sciences and other subjects as well as to represent the expert knowledge

of individuals and teams in education, government and business.

Ausubel's believed that learning of new knowledge relies on what is already known.

That is, construction of knowledge begins with our observation and recognition of

events and objects through concepts we already have. We learn by constructing a

network of concepts and adding to them. Ausubel also stresses the importance of

reception rather than discovery learning, and meaningful rather than rote learning.

Solid- strong blonds, no room to move; liquid- weak bonds, a little room to move; gas-

no bonds, a lot of room to move.

The Nature of Scientific Inquiry (NOSI)

1. Observation. Discussion on the topic “What happens with water molecules when

they freeze?”

Children: “They stop.” , “ They are like ice then.”, “You could make icecream also like

this.”, “It needs really cold place- like Arctic.”

2. Experimentation.

We reminded the movement game of how molecules move in different states.

Then we googled and reminded how water molecules look like and how do they

move when they are in the different states.

Water molecule Cold- icing, warm- melting

Children put different things (coffe beans, buttons, rubber bands) to their pastic cup and

then added some water to the cup. Then they put their cups out of the window (it was

-7°C outside).

In few minutes they checked if water on their cups is already frozen. It was not.

3. Summarization of the results as laws

Temperature is a measurement of how fast molecules are moving around. When

it's cooler, the temperature is lower because the molecules slow down.

If the water is not pure, particles get in the way of molecules linking up so water

will not freeze as quickly.

Even though the water’s physical form changes, its molecules stay the same.

A block of ice is solid water. When heat (a form of energy) is added, the ice

melts into liquid water. It has reached its melting point – 0°C

Nature recycles water. It can be melted, frozen and evaporated again and again.

There is no loss of water during or after it changes form.

4. Hypothesis

Children: “If we have too many things in water, it takes more time for water to freeze.”

5. Testing the hypothesis in the lab

After 5 hours children took their plastic cups from outside and started to compere them.

6. Explanation provided by the hypothesis

Children: “It was exactly like I said.”, “Mine was still not cold enough.”, “We have to

let them freeze over night and then tomorrow everybody has water frozen in their cup.”

Final assessment of the activity

Children were asked to check their cups with water next morning again. First to check if

everybodys water has frozen over night. Children were also asked to let their cups next

day stay in the room and then to compare whos ice is melting faster.

All together there were 7 children who were in the kindergarten all 3 days (on 1. day

children draw a picture before they knew anything, on the 2. day children took part of

the experiment, on the 3. day children draw a picture with new knowledge of the topic).

All 7 children draw first water molecules. After the experiment 3 of 7 children (2 girls,

1 boy) draw that molecules are away from others, but they are still attached with each

other. 3 of 7 children (2 boys, 1 girl) draw that molecules are moving really slow when

they are frozen. 1 boy draw that if water is not clear, it takes more time to freeze.