Wet and Dry Clothes

Materials

clothesline
clothespins
doll clothes
plastic tub
sealed plastic bag
water

Mathematics/Counting and Cardinality/PK.CC.MA.5: Use comparative language, such as more/less, equal to, to compare and describe collections of objects.
Mathematics/Measurement and Data/PK.MD.MA.2: Compare the attributes of length and weight for two objects, including longer/shorter, same length; heavier/lighter, same weight; holds more/less, holds the same amount.

MA Draft STE Standards:

Physical Sciences/Matter and Its Interactions: Structure and Properties of Matter/PS1.A: Describe, compare, sort and classify objects based on observable physical characteristics, uses, and whether it is manufactured as part of their classroom play and investigations of the natural and human-made world.

Head Start Outcomes:

Logic and Reasoning/Reasoning and Problem Solving: Classifies, compares, and contrasts objects, events, and experiences.
Science Knowledge/Scientific Skills and Method: Observes and discusses common properties, differences, and comparisons among objects.

PreK Learning Guidelines:

Science and Technology/Inquiry Skills 2: Make predictions about changes in materials or objects based on past experience.

Wet and Dry Clothes

Skill Focus: Compare and Contrast, Fine Motor Skills, Vocabulary

Fill a plastic tub halfway with water. Explain to children that they are going to wash the doll clothes from the play area. Tell them they are going to explore how the wet clothes become dry.

Have children “wash” the clothes in the tub of water and then wring the water out of them. You may need to help them squeeze the water out. Then have some children hang their clothes on the clothesline and have others place their clothes in plastic bags—seal them tight!

Tell children they will check the clothes over the week to see if they are still wet or if the water has evaporated. Ask, Do you think all the clothes will dry at the same time? Why do you think that?

Revisit the clothes throughout the week. Have children touch them so they can determine which clothes are still wet and which ones are dry. Ask children why they think some are dry and others are wet. Ask, What do you think would happen if we put the wet clothes on the clothesline?

Adaptation: Instead of using plastic bags, place some clothes in a cool area and place others by a heater or fan to demonstrate how heat and wind will speed up evaporation.