Core Skills Analysis
Science
- Audrey explored capillary action by watching water move up the paper towel and spread through the material.
- She observed how absorbent materials soak up liquid, which introduced a simple investigation of properties of everyday materials.
- Audrey saw cause and effect clearly: dipping the paper caused the texta colours to change and move.
- She practiced careful observation by noticing how the paper flower changed over time when water was added.
Design and Technology
- Audrey planned and created a paper flower shape, showing basic design and making skills.
- She used simple tools and materials creatively to turn paper towel into a new object with a decorative purpose.
- Audrey combined art materials and water effects to create a finished product with both visual and scientific features.
- She experimented with materials to see how the paper’s structure affected the final result.
The Arts
- Audrey used colour deliberately with texta to decorate the paper flower.
- She made artistic choices about shape and appearance by cutting the paper towel into a flower form.
- Audrey explored a mixed-media effect as the water changed how the colours looked on the paper.
- The activity supported creative expression through making and transforming an artwork.
Tips
Audrey’s activity can be extended by trying different paper types, such as tissue, paper towel, and cardstock, to compare which materials absorb water fastest and which hold their shape best. She could also predict what will happen before each test, then record the results in a simple chart or drawing. To build creativity, Audrey might make a series of flowers with different colour patterns and watch how the colours blend when dipped. A great follow-up would be to talk about why some materials absorb water more easily than others, linking her observations to real-life uses like cleaning, painting, or crafting.
Book Recommendations
- The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle: A classic picture book about a seed’s journey and plant growth, connecting well to flower-themed learning and observation.
- Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert: A colourful book that explores flowers, colour, and patterns in nature and art.
- The Magic School Bus Inside a Flower by Joanna Cole: An engaging introduction to flowers and how they work, linking science with a flower-making activity.
Learning Standards
- Science Understanding: Audrey investigated how water is absorbed by different materials, matching early science inquiry about observable properties and changes in materials.
- Science Inquiry Skills: She observed and described a simple cause-and-effect process, including changes over time when water was added.
- Design and Technologies: Audrey used materials, tools, and shaping techniques to create a designed product (a paper flower) for a specific visual purpose.
- The Arts: She experimented with colour, shape, and transformation to create an artwork with expressive and visual impact.
Try This Next
- Draw and label the paper flower before and after dipping it in water.
- Make a prediction chart: Which paper will absorb water fastest?
- Write a sentence starter: 'When the paper touched the water, I noticed...'
- Try a color-mixing test with two texta colours and observe the changes.