Why Puddles Disappear
One saucer in the sun, one in the shade, and a real answer by lunchtime.
The goal
By the end of this lesson, Nora will be able to explain that puddles disappear because the water evaporates into the air, especially when it is warmed by the sun.
Grab these first
- Two identical saucers or shallow bowls
- Water
- Paper and pencil for drawing observations
How to teach it, step by step
- 1
Explain the idea
Water can change from a liquid into a gas. We call that change evaporation. When water evaporates, it turns into tiny bits of water vapor that float up into the air. We cannot see the vapor, but it is there.
The sun helps this happen faster. Its warmth makes the water molecules move quicker until they jump into the air. Shade keeps things cooler, so evaporation happens more slowly there.
Here is a simple way to see it. If you have a wet towel on the clothesline on a sunny day, it dries fast. The water evaporates. On a cloudy, cool day the same towel stays damp much longer.
- 2
Gather two identical saucers or shallow bowls, some water, and a sunny windowsill or spot outside. Talk with Nora about puddles she has seen after rain. Ask her what she thinks happens to them over time. Listen to her ideas without correcting yet.
- 3
Pour the same small amount of water, about two tablespoons, into each saucer. Place one saucer in a sunny spot and the other in a shady spot nearby. Make sure both spots are safe and level.
- 4
Together, look closely at the water right now. Have Nora describe what she sees: how much water is there, what the surface looks like, and whether the saucers feel the same temperature. Draw a quick picture of each saucer on a piece of paper and write the time next to each drawing.
- 5
Check the saucers again after about 15 minutes. Talk about any changes you notice. Which one has less water? Why might that be? Remind her that the sun's warmth speeds up evaporation.
- 6
Ask Nora to predict what would happen if you left the saucers out all day. End by having her tell you in her own words why puddles disappear on sunny days.
- 7
Do this together
Do a quick evaporation hunt around the house. Look together at any damp spots, like a just-wiped counter, a damp washcloth, or morning dew on the grass if you have some outside. Talk about whether each spot will dry faster in the sun or the shade. Then race to build a tiny fort out of blankets and pillows that could give a pretend puddle some shade so it would take longer to disappear. Keep the game light and stop while she is still smiling.
teaching tip ✦
If Nora gets impatient waiting for the water to change, set a timer for five-minute checks and let her draw or tell a short story about a horse splashing in puddles between looks. The real learning happens in the talking and noticing, not in waiting perfectly still.
Printable worksheet
Why Puddles Disappear
6 problems · answer key included
this took Arbor about a minute
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