CHILDREN AND WATER ArvindGuptaToys（孩子们和水ArvindGuptaToys）.pdf

{Chapter from the book Unesco Sourcebook of Science in the Primary School (A workshop approach to teacher education) by Wynne Harlen and Jos Elstgeest, published in India by the National Book Trust, A-5 Green Park, New Delhi 110016 Priced very nominally at Rs 60} CHILDREN AND WATER Jos Elstgeest Introduction Water is a common yet exciting material, freely available almost everywhere, which lends itself to an endless variety of genuine science activities. Common as it appears to be, water can be a source of wonder to children and to adults who have kept up the habit of questioning and wondering. Water play is one of the earliest forms of children’s exploration. At normal temperatures water is pleasant to work with. Some of its properties are easily revealed and these early experiences - the start of more detailed and sophisticated ideas. “Water makes things wet” is one of those early experiences, but that this high adhesive power is due to its molecular structure giving it a strong negative polarity is an idea which requires many more experiences and related ideas formed by reflection and thought. All investigations of water at primary-school level can be carried out with the simplest of materials, readily available or made or improvised. Providing materials for the study of water is by itself an inviting challenge. For example, a zigzag gutter system of split bamboo stalks or banana leaf stalks to convey water from one place to another was initiated by a practicing student-teacher and carried out by a class of children in order to solve the problem: “How can we make it easier to water our garden from the well above?” This chapter indicates many simple materials, which can be used for qualitative as well as for quantitative work. Most of the things demand only the effort of collecting them. Some, however, require more careful,