Water Play

By: Brianna Gitchuway

 What did I use?
● A clear bucket
● Another bucket to scoop the balls in
● Balls
● Water
● Toys that sink and float
● Spatula
● Containers (2)
● Bottle caps (2)
What did I use? (Part 2)
 How did you use science process skills during your water exploration? Share concrete
examples. Share how those examples could be explored with children.

I used science processing skills when I showed ice turning into water. For this
activity, I wanted to show solid turning into liquid because I believe it’s great for
children to see the difference between a solid and a liquid. I also wanted them to
know that ice melts down and turns into water. In the picture, I showed how the ice
is melting inside of the water which is solid turning into liquid.
Solid: Ice Liquid: Water

Vs.
 What kinds of math learning might children be experiencing during water exploration?

● During water play children can count the balls that are in the water.
● Sort the balls in different colors.
● Count the balls 1-10.
● Which container has more water than the other container.
● Hand Eye Coordination
● Enhances gross motor skills from pouring and splashing the water.
● Sink or float.
 Math Foundations
1.1 Recite numbers in order to ten with increasing accuracy. I put balls in the water for the children to count 1-10. The
children will grab the spatula, and try and pick up the balls to throw them inside of the bucket while counting to 10.
2.1 Compare visually (with or without counting) two groups of objects that are obviously equal or nonequal and
communicate, “more” or “same.” The reason I put 2 containers in the water is to show the children one container being filled
with water and another container empty. The children will identify which container contains water and which container
doesn’t.
2.3 Understand that putting two groups of objects together will make a bigger group and that a group of objects can be taken
apart into smaller groups. Children will identify and place the different color balls in a container with the same color of balls.
They are learning how to put the same color balls in one group.
 What insights did this experience give you about doing water play exploration with children?

This activity gave me insights by seeing what is going to be successful in learning for the children and
what is not. When we do activities, we have to make sure as educators, that we are making them
developmentally appropriate because if not, the child will not be able to do the activity. I learned that
with children who are under 2 years old, won’t understand which container is filled with more water,
but they will be able to use their motor skills by pouring the water into the buckets.
 What did you enjoy most about this activity?

I enjoyed the ways that I could make it about science and math when playing with water.
When children count the toys that are in the water, they are learning math skills. One of the
things I enjoyed the most was discovering whether one container had more water than the
other container because it made me think about how much water could go inside the
container before it is full. I also wanted to add a bit of science into the activity with teaching
the children solid to liquid. Another activity that I enjoyed was seeing what items could float
or sink inside of the water.
 References:
“Water Play.” Google Slides, Google,
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1-2wvrpcfdgCtmJGNwOeZfqHdFTrKvUS_
c0rz68FPFdM/edit#slide=id.p1.

Water Play and Your Child's Growing Brain - Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5FOM4wQcT0.