Hydromania TRK

Properties of Water

Hands-on curricular module

  • » Extensive teacher material
  • » Lively engagement exercises
  • » Probeware-based discovery

Hydromania I: Properties of Water (PS-2803)

HydroMania I: Properties of Water includes:

Engagement Activities

  • Discussion

    Comparing volume of Earth's water to the small amount available for human use

Exploratory Activities

  • The Great Dissolver

    Explore the properties of water that make it an outstanding solvent, using conductivity as an indicator

  • Sticky Water

    Investigate capillary action and surface tension

  • Altered States

    Measure temperature as water changes its physical state

  • Misbehaving Water

    Discover the surprising density characteristics of liquid and solid water

  • What's Hot About Specific Heat?

    Compare the specific heat capacities of water and soil

Culminating Activity

  • Kinesthetic activity

    Students take the part of hydrogen and oxygen molecules and work together to act our water behavior as it freezes, dissolves sugar, etc.

  • A World with Wacky Water

    Students create a video, children's book or other presentation addressing the question - "What would the Earth be like if water didn't have its unique qualities?"

In Hydromania I TRK: Properties of Water, students study key properties of water -- including capillary action, surface tension, Hydrogen bonding and water's high specific heat capacity -- in a series of hands-on probeware labs.

Misbehaving Water Poster

Hydromania I: Properties of Water includes 5 wall posters to help students visualize, describe and remember key attributes of water. Enlarge image

Student Learning Objectives

This Teacher's Resource Kit includes five lesson plans incorporating hands-on activities to build a foundation in six basic properties of water:

  • Ability to dissolve ionic compounds (salts) because of the polarity of the water molecule.
  • Ability to dissolve non-polar molecules such as sugars because of hydrogen bonding.
  • Capillary action and surface tension through hydrogen bonding.
  • Latent heat of fusion and vaporization.
  • Anomalous behavior when frozen (due to hydrogen bonding)
  • High specific heat capacity.

The activities are built so that students are required to relate the physical properties of water to real-world situations, and then engage in discussions about how the world would be quite different if water did not have these unique properties.

About the Hydromania series

Hydromania explores water science in a four part series:

The four units could be taught independently. However, the synergy of the four units yields a deeper comprehension of both the fundamental science and social issues of water.

With Hydromania, students will:

  • Understand why the unique physical properties of water make it such an important, life-sustaining resource
  • Identify factors that affect water quality and in turn learn how water quality determines suitability for various uses
  • Model typical water treatment processes and gauge their effectiveness
  • Understand that water treatment processes are essential to human life as well as to the ecosystem
  • Understand how human activities affect water quality
  • Explain water's relationship to the environment at large

PASCO Teacher Resource Kits

Each Teacher Resource Kit (TRK) is a collection of standards-based lessons with an inquiry focus designed to guide students and teachers through progressive exploration of key scientific themes. Each TRK is a combination of written and electronic materials organized to make it easy for you to plan, prepare and guide your students through innovative lessons incorporating sensor technology when and where appropriate.

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Here's what you need:

TRK Binder
Hydromania I: Properties of Water (PS-2803)

This curricular unit provides a focus on key properties of water, including capillary action, surface tension, hydrogen bonding and water's high specific heat capacity. Provides lesson planning information, teacher and student background materials, classroom posters, plus Electronic Workbooks which guide students through probeware-based activities.

We recommend one Teacher Resource Kit per classroom.

Hydro Intro Bundle
Hydromania Introductory Probeware Bundle (PS-2739)

This introductory bundle provides the probeware needed for the hands-on lab activities in the first two volumes of Hydromania (“Properties of Water” and “Water Quality”). With this equipment, your students will measure pH, conductivity and temperature. Our starter software, DataStudio Lite, is included free with your order.

Includes:
  • Xplorer datalogger (PS-2000)
  • USB Link (PS-2100)
  • PASPORT pH Sensor (PS-2102)
  • PASPORT Conductivity Sensor (PS-2116)
  • PASPORT Temperature Sensor (PS-2125)

We recommend one bundle per computer/lab station of 3-4 students.

Hydro Complete Bundle
Hydromania Complete Probeware Bundle (PS-2686)

This complete bundle provides the probeware necessary for the hands-on activities in all four volumes of Hydromania: “Properties of Water”, “Water Quality”, “Water Treatment” and “Watershed”. With this equipment, your students measure pH, conductivity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and flow rate. Our starter software, DataStudio Lite, is included free with your order.

Includes:
  • Xplorer datalogger (PS-2000)
  • USB Link (PS-2100)
  • PASPORT pH Sensor (PS-2102)
  • PASPORT Conductivity Sensor (PS-2116)
  • PASPORT Temperature Sensor (PS-2125)
  • PASPORT Dissolved Oxygen Sensor (PS-2108)
  • PASPORT Turbidity Sensor (PS-2122)
  • PASPORT Flow Rate/Temperature Sensor (PS-2130)

We recommend one bundle per computer/lab station of 3-4 students.

Hydromania Labware Kit (SC-2317)

This labware kit offers most of the materials and equipment you need to perform the experiments in Hydromania, volumes I-III.

We recommend one labware kit per workstation.

Hydromania Consumables Kit (SC-2318)

This consumables kit offers most of the materials and equipment you need to perform the experiments in Hydromania, volumes I-III.

We recommend one consumables kit per classroom (up to 8 workstations).

PASCO solution at a glance

For more product information, specifications, to request a quote or place an order, click the product links to the left.

Featured Products

Awards for Hydromania

T & L logoEdurate logo

Hydromania was the first product ever to receive a perfect score in Education World's Educator Software Review -- receiving the highest marks from all five teachers in the categories of usability, performance, usefulness, installation and support.

See the glowing comments and link to the full review.