Solids, Liquids, and Gases Oh My! 2nd Grade Science ENGAGE

Focus Question: Does air take up space? (Turn and talk with your group.)

Materials: Materials: • a big clear bowl or container full of water • a clear glass tumbler or beaker • a piece of paper • a Styrofoam packaging noodle (any small piece of Styrofoam will do)

Procedure: 1. Crumple up a piece of paper and stuff it in the bottom of the glass so that it doesn’t fall out when you turn it upside down. 2. What will happen if you push the glass straight down into the bowl of water?

Procedure: 3. Push the glass straight down into the water. Allow everyone in your group to have a look. 4. Take it out of the water and have someone remove the paper. 5.Why the water didn’t go up into the glass? 6. Float a Styrofoam packaging noodle on the surface of the water. Put the glass over the noodle and push it down to the bottom. Have everyone observe what happens.

Discussion: Why didn’t the paper get wet? Remember that the cup was not empty but full of air. How did you know the air takes up space and prevented the water from filling the cup. What is a word for the amount of space?

Clean up! Leave your table as clean as you found it.