Activity Introduction
Quick summary: Students will experiment with making rain by holding a tray of ice over a pan of boiling water.
These Snappy Science resources have been created to boost science education in primary schools across Australia. Each lesson is designed to support teachers with the scientific knowledge, ideas and resources to stimulate a sense of wonder and curiosity in their students. Many of the big issues that Australian society will face in the future are around technology, energy, resources and climate change. All of these require students to engage with science – but most of all to enjoy science!
Science at Home: Many of these Snappy Science resources can also be used to engage families in fun science and learning for life. Although we wouldn’t recommend students doing this particular activity at home, you can find plenty more student friendly versions of our Snappy Science resources in our Snappy Science Digital Library.
General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking.
Australian Curriculum content description: This activity is relevant to Science Inquiry Skills across all primary year levels of the Australian Curriculum.
Year 1 Science
- Observable changes occur in the sky and landscape (ACSSU019)
Year 2 Science
- Earth’s resources, including water, are used in a variety of ways (ACSSU032)
Year 3 Science
- A change of state between solid and liquid can be caused by adding or removing heat (ACSSU046)
Syllabus Outcomes: ST1-8ES, ST1-9ES, ST2-12MW.
Time required: 5 – 10 minutes.
Resources required: Saucepan, water, tray of ice cubes, oven mitt.
Safety advice: This activity requires boiling water – depending on student age and ability this activity may be either a student-led experiment or a teacher-led demonstration.
Keywords: Water, boiling, rain, ice.
Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.
