Third grade students from St. Marien-Schule in Germany were invited by a secondary school to participate in science experiments about water. The experiments included observing how salt, sand, vinegar, oil, and other substances dissolve or settle when mixed with water. Another experiment showed how heating salt water causes the water to evaporate, leaving salt crystals behind. A final experiment demonstrated that mixing effervescent powder with water produces carbon dioxide gas that inflates a balloon. The goal was to teach students about chemistry, biology and physics using water as the subject.

1. Water experiments
February 2014 – Part I
St. Marien-Schule
Kirschenallee 100
47443 Moers

2. St. Marien-Schule, Kirschenallee 100, 47443 Moers, Germany
Our third graders were very lucky this year. They were
invited by a secondary school (Gymnasium Adolfinum) to do
some science experiments with them.
Some years ago this Gymnasium had a marvellous idea. They
wanted to motivate their students to be science teachers
later. At that school students can take part in a project
called „Die Großen mit den Kleinen“ (the big with the small).
First the students prepare some lessons for 3rd graders and
afterwards some classes from local primary schools are
invited to do these lessons.
This year both of our 3rd grade classes were invited and had
the opportunity to learn about biology, chemistry and physics.
And of course there were some WATER EXPERIMENTS.
Great for us, as we could work in a real laboratory.

3. St. Marien-Schule, Kirschenallee 100, 47443 Moers, Germany
Our chemistry teachers

4. St. Marien-Schule, Kirschenallee 100, 47443 Moers, Germany
Can water make things disappear?
1. Fill the test tubes half with water
2. Add to one test tube some
1. salt
2. sand
3. vinegar
4. cooking oil
5. sugar
6. garden mould
3. Add a stopper and shake well
4. Wait for a minute and note your observation
The task:

5. St. Marien-Schule, Kirschenallee 100, 47443 Moers, Germany
We observed that salt, vinegar, and sugar dissolve in water.
Oil floats on the surface. Sand and garden mould settle, but
sand faster than garden mould.

6. St. Marien-Schule, Kirschenallee 100, 47443 Moers, Germany
The kitchen salt factory
1. Fill one glass ( 50 ml) half with water
2. Add half a table spoon of salt
3. Stir well
4. Absorb some of the mixture with a pipette
5. Add 10 drops of the salt water to an empty
glass
6. Heat this glass e.g. on a „portable hearth “
7. Note your observation
The task:

7. St. Marien-Schule, Kirschenallee 100, 47443 Moers, Germany
We observed that salt
first dissolved in the
water.
When the drops were
heated, the water
evaporated and the salt
remained on the bottom
of the glass as little salt
crystals.

8. St. Marien-Schule, Kirschenallee 100, 47443 Moers, Germany
Mixing effervescent powder with water
1. Fill one package of effervescent powder into a bottle
2. Blow a balloon and whoop it up again
3. Fill some water into the bottle
4. Put the balloon over the bottle neck (FAST!)
5. Note your observation
The task:

9. St. Marien-Schule, Kirschenallee 100, 47443 Moers, Germany
We observed that the
mixture began to fizz and
bubble. Some kind of gas
called carbon dioxide is
produced. This gas needs
room to spread, so the
carbon dioxide fills the
bottle and then moves into
the balloon, inflating it.

10. St. Marien-Schule, Kirschenallee 100, 47443 Moers, Germany
Comenius project: Water in our Lives
This project has been funded with support from the European
Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author,
and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may
be made of the information contained therein.