What is Absorbency?

M. Olympius, Grade 2 Lesson 2 of 7

NGSS targets:
DCI: Analyze data obtained from testing different materials to determine which materials have the
2-PS1-2 properties that are best suited for an intended purpose.

CCC: Cause and Effect

Simple tests can be designed to gather evidence to support or refute student ideas about
causes. (2-PS1-2)

SEP: Analyzing and Interpreting Data

Analyzing data in K2 builds on prior experiences and progresses to collecting, recording, and
sharing observations.
Analyze data from tests of an object or tool to determine if it works as intended.

Student Learning Objectives

1. Students will design a test with the given materials to determine which material is best suited for
maximum absorbency.
2. Students will be able to identify how liquid is absorbed and why this could be useful.
3. Students will analyze data and, based on observable evidence, determine which material is best
suited for its intended purpose.

Engage
Two items will be shown to the class. One will be a diaper and the other will be a sponge. Ask the
students,

What do these two items have in common?

Allow students to brainstorm . However, guide them towards the idea that the sponge and diaper are used
to soak up liquids. This helps transition to the question,

What is absorbency?

Create a list of things that absorb liquid. (Paper towels, cloth towels, hair, tissues, cotton, soil, etc.)

Then ask,

What makes something absorbent?

Explore
Allow students to work in teams of 2 or 4 to explore the question What makes something absorbent?
Ask them to draw their ideas of why something can absorb liquid. Ask them to write down what evidence
they have observed in their everyday life. (Ex, sponge in the sink, paper towels picking up a spill)

Next, based on their groups ideas and drawing of what makes something absorb liquid, ask students to
design the most absorbent material they can think of and draw it. Upon completion, the teacher will be
stamping each group's design before they can move on to the next step, the experiment. (formative
assessment)

Explain
Before the experiment: Ask each group to tell the class what they drew and why they believe their idea
would be best suited for absorbing water!

Experiment: Give the groups a small wash basin, bottle of water, sponge, one and a gallon bag about 15%
full of sodium polyacrylate (the stuff in a diaper). Tell them, that their goal is to make the bottle of water
disappear using only the sponge and/or the material in the bag. Tell them that if they use the sponge, they
have to keep the sponge inside the wash basin at all times so there is no mess.

If they do this right, they will not need to use the sponge because there is enough sodium
polyacrylate in the bag to soak up an entire water bottle.

After the experiment: Ask each group what they observed. They should say something to the effect of
The material in the bag soaked up more water than we thought! Or The sponge soaked up some water
but the stuff in the bag soaked up a lot more.

Next, explain to them that the material in the bag is called sodium polyacrylate. It is what is inside a
diaper! Tell them that is a polymer that is capable of holding up to 800 times its weight in water! Say,
That is like if you weighed 100 pounds and could eat 800 pounds of food in one sitting!

Elaborate
Students can either explain or diagram the difference they saw between the sponge and the sodium
polyacrylate. The difference I am looking for is that the sodium polyacrylate has thousands of little
absorbent balls in order to latch onto the water and suck it in. The water on the sponge can only fill in a
few holes and empty spaces, not nearly as much room as all of those tiny sodium polyacrylate crystals.

Evaluate
Formative: Student logs that have diagrams will be assessed throughout the lesson.

Summative: Students will write a conclusion claim based on evidence from their experiment that though
multiple materials are good at absorbing, some may not have the same purpose. Sodium polyacrylate is
used to trap water while a sponge is used to keep water in but can also squeeze it out when necessary.