Direct Instruction Lesson Plan

-----Ying Dai

Lesson Plan Information

Subject/Course: Science
Grade Level: Grade 8

Date: March 28, 2016

Time Frame: 45 minutes

Topic: The Properties of Water

Objectives:
After this lesson, students will be able to

Describe the chemical structure of water molecules

List at least three unusual properties of water

Explain how does waters structure determine its unique properties.

Describe how does waters properties important to life on earth

Background
This lesson is the section 2 of Chapter 5 Earths Water. To understand the key concepts
of this chapter, students should know the following background knowledge:

Freshwater, which is limited in supply, is essential for some organisms and

industries processes.

Most living things need water, food, and air.

Both plants and animals need to take in water, and animals need to take in food.
Students have learned the section 1 The Water Planet. Students have learned following
concepts:

All organisms on Earth depend on water. Its high specific heat helps provide a stable
temperature for aquatic organism.

Water is in the hydrosphere- both on and below Earths surface, and in the
atmosphere.

Water moves through the water cycle by evaporation, transpiration, condensation,

precipitation, and runoff.

Anticipatory Set (Opener)

Launch Lab: How many pennies can be added to a full glass of water?
Objectives: Investigate the properties of water
Materials: 1 clear glass
Water

40-50 pennies
Procedure:
1. Students predict how many pennies they can put in the glass of water without letting
any leak over the edges.
2. Fill a glass right to the top with water, until it will hold no more
3. Start gently dropping pennies one by one into the water. (Hint: it is better to hold the
pennies on edge and carefully slip them into the water.)
4. Count the pennies when adding them until the water overflows.
5. Compare the prediction with the result. Is one number higher than the other? If so,
why do you think they are different?

Teaching Input
When we fill the glass with water, we notice right away that it can go over the brim of
the glass without spilling. This is because the surface of the water sticks together really
well. Each molecule of water is attracted to the other water molecules around it. This
attraction causes the molecules to stick together and avoid spilling down the side of the
glass like gravity would like them to. This is called surface tension.
Unfortunately, the attraction between the water molecules is only so strong. The
pennies take up space in the glass, and the water has to get out of the way to make room
for the pennies. Because of surface tension, the water can go up and does not overflow
right away. As we add pennies, the amount of water spilling over the edges is getting
larger and larger until the water just cant take it anymore! Eventually the volume of
water above the rim of glass becomes too great for the surface tension to hold, and the
water spills down side of the glass.

Modeling
From the lab above we have known that surface tension is one of properties of
water. What are other properties of water? Have you noticed that water forms drops of if
you spill some on a counter? Have you ever dissolved salt in water?
Water has unusual properties because of its molecules. Let us understand the
structure of water and find out how does the chemical structure of water molecules
determine its unusual properties.
Like all matter, water is made up of molecules. A water molecule is made up of one
oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms. Each end of the molecule has a slightly electric

charge. The oxygen end has a slight negative charge. The hydrogen ends have a slight
positive charge. A molecule that has electrically charged areas is a polar molecule.
Because water consists of polar water molecules, it is
called a polar substance. The positive hydrogen ends of
one water molecule attract the negative oxygen ends of
nearby water molecules. As a result, the water molecules
tend to stick together.
Modeling of polar molecule
Have you played with bar magnets? If so, then you know
the opposite poles of two magnets attract each other. The same
is true with polar molecules, except that an electric force rather
than a magnet force causes of the attraction.
Water as a Solvent
What happens when you make a fruit drink from a powered
mix? As you stir the power into the water, the power seems to
disappear. When you make the
fruit drink, you are making a
solution. (Students can do this
activity
in
class
by
themselves.) A solution is a
mixture that forms when one
substance dissolves another.
Water is the solvent; many
substances can dissolve in it because water is polar
molecule. The charged ends of the water molecule attract the molecules of other polar
substances. It is always called universal solvent.
Capillary Action
Students can put a straw in a tube or a glass of water; look closely at the level of the
liquid outside of the liquid outside and inside the straw. The liquid rise higher inside the
straw. The combined force of attraction among water molecules and with the molecules
surrounding materials is called Capillary Action.

Checking for Understanding

Have students learned the concepts about water molecules and
some of properties of water. Then ask students these questions to
assess their understanding.

Questions 1: Water contains what two elements? Draw the structure of water
molecule.
Answers: Hydrogen and oxygen make up water.
Questions 2: Describe the polarity of a water molecule.
Answers: A water molecule has a slightly negative charge on one end and two
hydrogen atoms with a slightly positive charge on the other end.
Questions 3: Have you ever watched water striders
skate across the surface of a pond without sinking? What is
the reason?
Answers: water striders are supported by the surface
tension of the water.
Questions 4: What are some substances that dissolve in water?
Answers: Sample: salt and sugar.
Questions 5: Why do water molecules stick together?
Answers: Water molecules stick together because they are polar molecules. The
positive hydrogen side of one molecule attracts the negative oxygen side of another
molecule.

Guided Practice
Activity: Can the needle float on the surface of the water?
Materials: A bowl of water, a sewing needle, liquid soap and two small square of
bathroom tissue.
Procedure:
1. Three students one group and get all the materials needed.
2. Fill the bowl with water and students try different ways to make the needle on the
surface of water.
3. The teacher guides the students place the needle on top of the bathroom tissue square
and place it gently on the water.
4. The bathroom tissue sinks to the bottom, notice the needle is floating or not.
5. Remove the bathroom tissue and sewing needle from the water. Add a few drops of
liquid soap to the water and stir with your finger. Wait for a minute.
6. Carefully place the second square of bathroom tissue and needle on top of the water.
Explain:
The sewing needle can float on the surface of water because of surface tension of water.
But after adding a few drops of soap, the soap reduces the waters surface tension so that
the water can no longer support the needle. That is why soap works so effectively to
clean.

Closure
Snowstorm
Students write down what they have learned or the questions related the concepts of this
lesson on a piece of scratch paper and wad it up. Given a signal, they throw their paper
snowballs in the air. Then each student picks up a nearby response, reads the concepts or
answers the question.

Independent Practice
At home Activity
Observing Waters Properties
Materials needed:
A penny, paper, dropper/ toothpick
Put a penny on a piece of paper. With a plastic dropper or a toothpick, have a family
member place a single drop of water on the penny. Ask the person to predict how many
drops he or she can add before the water spills off the penny. Have the person add drops
one at a time until the water overflows. How does the result differ from the prediction?
Explain what property of water accounts for the results.