Objective

By the end of this lesson, Lively will understand the basic properties of water, including its ability to flow, take different shapes, and how it can change from liquid to solid and back again. Lively will also have fun exploring water through hands-on activities!

Materials and Prep

• Water (from the tap or a container)
• Ice cubes (if available, or freeze some water beforehand)
• A small bowl or container to hold water
• A large shallow dish or tray
• A sponge or cloth for cleanup

Before the lesson, make sure to have all the materials ready and choose a space that is easy to clean up after water play.

Activities

• Water Flow Exploration:

  Fill the large shallow dish with water and let Lively use her hands to splash, pour, and feel the water. Encourage her to notice how the water moves and flows. Ask her questions like, "What happens when you pour water from one hand to the other?"

• Ice Cube Investigation:

  Show Lively the ice cubes and let her touch them. After a few minutes, place the ice cubes in the bowl of water and watch them melt. Ask her, "What do you think will happen to the ice?" and "Where did the ice go?"

• Water Shapes:

  Let Lively pour water into different containers (like cups or bowls) and observe how the water takes the shape of each container. You can ask, "Does the water look different in a tall glass versus a wide bowl?"

Talking Points

• "Water is super special because it can be a liquid, like what we see here, and it can also be ice, which is hard!"
• "Look how the water flows! It moves just like a little river when we pour it!"
• "When we put ice in the water, it starts to melt. Can you feel the water getting colder?"
• "Water takes the shape of whatever container we put it in. Isn’t that cool?"
• "What do you think happens to water when it gets really cold? It turns into ice! And when it gets warm, it turns back into water!"