Mad Science Monday: Noah's Ark Science Fun

It's Mad Science Monday! We've had so many holidays fall out on a Monday over the last month that it's actually been quite a while since we've done any science activities around here. Parsahs Noach is the perfect Torah portion for science experiments! The story of Noah's Ark introduces a variety of sciencetifc themes--weather/the water cycle, rain, clouds, rainbows/color-mixing, and buoyancy just to name a handful. We will definitely be doing some color mixing and exploration of rainbows around here this week. I'm also hoping to include this fun experiment with shaving cream to show how clouds make rain later in the week.  For today's science lesson, we set up one of my favorite science observations on the water cycle and did a classic and always beloved experiment I call Noah's Ark Sink or Float:

Cloud in a Bag Science Observation

On this super sunny morning, we already have cloud formation!

This activity is not one of those I classify under the "experiment" title specifically since although it may work very quickly (as it did on our sunny but cold window this morning) it is best observed over the course of several days. It is an easy one to do at home and equally easy to do with a group and send home. With very young scientists (like my own), most of the set up and prep might be done by an adult. Older junior scientists might take a more hands-on approach.



You will need:

• a quart size ziplock bag
• permanent markers (optional)
• water
• blue food color or liquid water color (optional)
• tape
• a window with sun exposure!

To set up your Cloud in a Bag: If you'd like to draw clouds, the sun and a body of water on your bag prior to adding your water source, you can use permanent markers to begin. Fill the bottom of the bag (about 1/4 of the way full so it won't be too heavy to hang) with water. Even little hands can help with this step! You can add blue food dye or liquid water color to make it easy to see. Tightly seal the bag. You may even want to tape over the top. Affix to a sunny window with tape and observe over the course of a few days, making sure to check it at different times of day or on days with different temperature and weather conditions.

What's Happening Here? At the beginning of the observation, all of the water is all at the bottom of the bag. Throughout the day, the heat of the sun warms up the water and creates condensation--just like a cloud! When the cloud gets too full to hold any more water, precipitation occurs, like rain, and the droplets of water return to the source of water at the bottom of the bag (as it does to our lakes, rivers, seas and oceans). This is the water cycle in action! 

Noah's Ark Sink or Float?

This experiment can be done with a variety of materials and through the lens of many themes. You can test objects from nature, around the house, toys, and compare/contrast how different materials sink or float in water. Younger junior scientists will love playing in the water, putting things in and taking them out. Older junior scientists will begin to understand that certain types of materials (like metal) are more dense and sink in water while other types (like wood) are more buoyant and float in water. You can talk about how this relates to the types of materials that would be useful in building the teivah (ark). Children may enjoy selecting their own test subjects as well. Older junior scientists may also benefit from a prediction stage of the experiment in which they guess (and chart) what they think will happen with each test material. For an added level of challenge, choose some objects like cups or containers that can hold water inside and observe the difference between when they are empty (and float) versus when they fill with water (and sink). This can demonstrate the importance of structural integrity in boats! Older children can also be challenged to create their own teivah to test using materials of their choice or materials you set out. I've seen some amazing preschool-aged engineers create fabulous watercraft out of wooden craft sticks, cardboard, foam trays, and Legos. 

Here are our test subjects ready to go! We are about to find out what Noach might need in order to build his teivah. What should he use to build this boat? What should he make sure to bring inside with him so it doesn't sink to the bottom of the flood when the rains begin?

I prepared our chart ahead of time and introduced the test subjects to my junior scientists!

He had a lot of fun putting things in and out of the water. (I used blue food coloring to make it easier to see, but you certainly do not need this to perform the experiment.) In addition to allowing for a lot of play and exploration of materials, I also introduced each item one at a time to really observe how it responds in water. We talked about the words "sink" and "float" and what they mean and look like. Something "sinks" when it goes to the bottom of the water. Something "floats" when it stays on top. Science activities are a great way to introduce vocabulary to young children!

We charted our results with some fun rainbow stickers. This allowed my toddler who has yet to master the fine motor control necessary for a tally or check mark to actively participate in recording the results. Older children can write the results and even chart independently in a journal rather than on a poster if you prefer.

The experiment is complete when your junior scientist is soaking wet and eats one of the test subjects!

This is one of those science experiments you can repeat again and again and still enjoy. As children advance in their understanding of the concepts, you can continue to build upon the activity in the ways suggested above. If indoor waterplay is not your cup of tea, you can definitely do this one right in the bathtub (or in warmer weather, outdoors). Happy playing!