Rainy day puddle investigation

What happens to puddles after the rain? Do this investigation to find out!

Materials:   

• Something to write on
• Something to write with
• Chalk (optional)
• A puddle!

Procedure: 

1. After it rains, find a nearby puddle to investigate.
2. First, observe your puddle. Why do you think it formed here? What do you notice about the puddle?
3. Then, make a prediction and record it on paper! What do you think will happen to the puddle in a couple of hours, a day, or two days? What makes you say that?
4. Using a piece of chalk, mark the outside edge of your puddle. 
5. Come back every couple of hours and mark the edge again. Repeat this step a few times or until your puddle is dry!
6. Finally, use your evidence to make a claim! What happened to the puddle? Why might it have happened? What else might you want to know? What else do you wonder?

Variations:   

• No chalk? No problem! Take a picture of your puddle instead and compare the pictures or record your observations by drawing a diagram of your puddle during each observation.
• Want to do it on a non-rainy day? Fill a cup of water and place it in the window. Mark the water level every few hours and use that evidence to make a claim!

Click through to page 2 to find this activity writeup in Spanish.