An Inquiry based learning activity I have used before is one I got years ago from the old Primary Science website – keeping the damp out (I think). It links in well with the themes of homes or water, especially on a rainy day. The rainy day can start of as the prompt or as in the presentation on materials- something has spilled. What materials could we use to water proof our homes / books / belongings.
The children could suggest and list different materials that could be waterproof or ones that do or don’t absorb water. The children would work in groups and be given as many of the materials they suggested as possible, eg plastic, paper, kitchen roll, tissues, grease proof paper, cloths, wool etc. They could explore and feel they objects and make predictions.
NNext pupils would be given a dish with some water with some red food colouring added. Different group members would place sugar cubes onto the dish – pupils would predict and observe as the cubes absorb the colouring as it travels up. Next pupils test the different materials by placing them between another set of sugar cubes. Which materials prevent the red water being absorbed? Pupils get the chance to predict and explore the different materials.
We would then discuss the results, draw diagrams of the experiment, list the items that are waterproof and those that absorb water.