What happens when you spill water? You grab something to soak it up! Some materials soak up water very well. We say they absorb water. A material that absorbs water is called absorbent.
A paper towel is absorbent. It pulls water inside its tiny holes. A sponge is absorbent too. It can hold a lot of water. Cotton cloth also soaks up water well.
Other materials do not absorb water at all. Water rolls right off them. We say these materials are waterproof. Plastic is waterproof. Metal is waterproof too. That is why raincoats are made of plastic, not paper!
Scientists test materials to find out which ones absorb the most. This week, you will test materials just like a scientist. You will find out which material soaks up the most water!
1. What do we call a material that soaks up water?
2. Name one material that is waterproof.
3. Why are raincoats made of plastic and not paper?
4. How does a paper towel soak up water?
Write what each word means in your own words.
Write "absorbent" or "waterproof" next to each material.
| Material | Absorbent or waterproof? |
|---|---|
| Paper towel | |
| Plastic bag | |
| Cotton sock | |
| Metal spoon | |
| Kitchen sponge | |
| Glass cup |
Write T for true or F for false in each circle.
Draw three absorbent things you can find in your home.
| Paper towel | Plastic bag | |
|---|---|---|
| Does it soak up water? | ||
| Would it clean a spill? | ||
| Would it keep rain off you? |
1. Absorbent materials ______________ water.
2. A ______________ can hold a lot of water inside it.
3. Materials that do not soak up water are ______________ .
4. Raincoats are made of ______________ .
5. Scientists ______________ materials to learn which absorb best.
6. A paper towel pulls ______________ into its tiny holes.
You need: two different paper towel brands, water, a spoon, two plates.
Put one spoonful of water on each plate. Press one towel on each puddle. Count to five. Which towel soaked up more water? Record your results!
| Paper towel | My prediction | What happened? |
|---|---|---|
| Brand 1: ____________ | ||
| Brand 2: ____________ |
Which brand won the test?
You will test five different materials with water. You will rank them from most absorbent to least absorbent. Start collecting cotton, paper, plastic, wood, and metal!
| I learned... | Circle one |
|---|---|
| What absorbent means | YES / NOT YET |
| What waterproof means | YES / NOT YET |
| How to test paper towels | YES / NOT YET |