Today in science, the students performed an experiment using a bucket of cool water, a cup of hot water, and a few drops of food coloring. The goal was to see how the placement of heat will cause water in the bucket to move in certain ways, creating a current. We discussed how this water current is similar to the currents of hot rock in the mantle of Earth and how that movement is thought to be responsible for the moving of tectonic plates of Earth’s crust.
We also used this opportunity to discuss the scientific method. Students formed hypotheses, identified variables, and worked on their observation skills. Students practiced carefully following an experiment procedure and using simple pipettes. Tomorrow students will complete the lab report by analyzing and writing up a conclusion of their findings.
