At Bodhiclasses, we believe that true understanding comes from exploration, observation, and questioning. This is the foundation of our educational philosophy, and Chapter 8, A Journey Through States of Water, beautifully reflects this spirit of inquiry. Aimed at Grade 6 students, this chapter from the NCERT Science textbook takes learners on an experiential and interactive exploration of one of nature’s most essential substances—water—in its three states: solid, liquid, and gas.
Understanding the Physical States of Water
The chapter begins with a relatable story of two children, Aavi and Thirav, enjoying a glass of lemonade on a hot day, leading to a discussion on whether ice and water are different substances. Through engaging activities and experiments, students discover that ice and water are two different states of the same substance. This sets the tone for an in-depth journey through the physical transformations water undergoes—melting, evaporation, condensation, and freezing.
Disappearing Water and the Mystery of Evaporation
Children observe everyday phenomena like puddles drying, sweat evaporating, and utensils drying after washing. These simple observations are used to introduce the concept of evaporation—the transformation of water into its gaseous state, even at room temperature. The role of heat, wind, and surface area in speeding up evaporation is explored through easy-to-do classroom and home activities.
Water in the Air: Condensation Explained
The chapter delves into the process of condensation—how water vapor in the air turns back into liquid droplets. Through thoughtful questioning and practical experiments such as the appearance of water droplets on the outer surface of a cold glass, students explore how humidity and temperature interact. They also investigate the formation of dew and fog, leading to deeper understanding.
From Ice to Steam: Changing States with Heat
A key focus is the interconversion of states—solid to liquid (melting), liquid to gas (evaporation), gas to liquid (condensation), and liquid to solid (freezing). Through activities such as transferring ice and water between containers and observing how they behave, learners identify the distinct properties of solids, liquids, and gases.
Factors Affecting Evaporation
To deepen their grasp, students experiment with different conditions affecting evaporation, like temperature, airflow, humidity, and exposed surface area. Whether it’s spreading water on a plate vs. a cap, or placing them in the sun and shade, learners derive clear, evidence-based conclusions.
Cooling Through Evaporation
Students learn about the cooling effect caused by evaporation using culturally familiar examples like earthen pots (matkas), sprinkling water on hot surfaces, and even pot-in-pot coolers. They also explore the everyday experience of coolness when sanitizer evaporates from the skin, linking classroom learning to real-world sensations.
Clouds and Rain: The Water Cycle Unveiled
The chapter beautifully transitions into the formation of clouds and rain. Through engaging activities, students visualize how water vapour rises, condenses into droplets around dust particles, and eventually falls back to Earth as rain, snow, or hail. They also perform a group experiment to simulate cloud formation inside a plastic bottle—making science come alive.
The Water Cycle: A Full Circle of Nature’s Magic
Finally, the chapter brings it all together with the water cycle—evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection. Learners are encouraged to observe, label, and reflect on how water moves through the Earth and atmosphere, and how human activities affect water availability.
Core Concepts Covered in A Journey Through States of Water
- Three States of Water: Solid (ice), Liquid (water), Gas (vapour)
- Processes: Melting, Freezing, Evaporation, Condensation
- Factors Affecting Evaporation: Surface area, humidity, temperature, airflow
- Cooling Effect: How evaporation cools substances
- Water Cycle: Natural circulation of water through Earth’s systems
