Absorbing Wyoming Snow
P = PretestWhat substance is found in a diaper to keep moisture from leaking out?
How many diapers would be needed to absorb all the snow in Wyoming?
O = Objectives- Student will experiment with diaper polymers to gain a better
understanding of how absorbent they are. Student will be able to describe the
amount of water one diaper can absorb.
C = Catch- During recess place a diaper on each student’s desk.
A=
1. Observe the dry diaper.
2. Cut open the inner lining of the diaper.
3. Separate the cotton from the polymer crystals.
4. Place crystals into a bowl.
5. Using a pipette, slowly add water until crystals no longer absorb the
water. Make sure to keep track of how much water is being added to the
crystals.
6. Create a class chart to record results of each student’s findings.
7. Discuss the meaning of the word polymer (poly-many mer-molecule)
Review the following terms
Monomer
Dimer
Trimer
Quadramer
Polymer
8. Game time, will use the terms they just learned to play a movement
game. They must all walk around the classroom “monomer” style. Music will be
playing while they mingle. When the music stops a term will be called out such
as “dimer”. The student must then link arms with the correct number of students
to create that molecule chain.
Sodium polyacrylate is a polymer. A polymer is a substance where small molecules join
together to form long chains. Water is a monomer (H20), but water molecules cannot join
together to form polymers. Sodium polyacrylate can absorb an amazing amount of water – 200
to 300 times its weight in water!
R = Review- Play a movement game with vocabulary.
A = Assessment- Using a new, dry diaper students will add as much water to the
diaper without it leaking. We will compare each other’s diaper to see which
diaper held the most water. Students should be able to use their prior knowledge
from previous experiment to help them.
P = Posttest- What substance is found in a diaper to keep moisture from leaking
out?
How many diapers would be needed to absorb all the snow in Wyoming?
S = StandardsStudents recognize how scientific information is used to make decisions.
Students use the inquiry process to conduct simple scientific investigations.
 Collect and organize data.
 Use data to construct simple graphs, charts, diagrams, and/or models.
 Draw conclusions and accurately communicate results, making connections
to daily life.
 Pose or identify questions and make predictions.
Conduct investigations to answer questions and check predictions.
SC4.1.7 Properties of Objects: Students classify objects by properties that can be observed,
measured, and recorded, including color, shape, size, weight, volume, texture, and
temperature.
SC8.1.11 Physical and Chemical Changes in Matter: Students evaluate chemical and physical
changes, recognizing that chemical change forms compounds with different
properties and that physical change alters the appearance but not the composition of
a substance.
SC4.3.2
SC4.2.2