A Drop of Water

Title: A Drop of Water

Author: Walter Wick

Recommended Grade Level: 6-8

NCTM Content Standard: Geometry

Summary: Vivid photographs illustrate the various states of water in A Drop of Water. The photos and accompanying explanations explore water from its simplest form as tiny molecules to its more complex forms as vapor, ice, snowflakes, and clouds. Water is also analyzed in its multiple stages of movement, including condensation and evaporation. Each new page contains a striking image of water to stimulate awe in the reader and a brief summary to explain the featured phenomenon. A list of potential experiments involving water are included at the end of the book.

Uses/Activities: Water is presented in its form as soap bubbles in the book. Students could read about water in this state and then use soap bubbles to learn about geometry, specifically circles. The activity would go as follows:
Groups of students receive bubble mix. Students blow bubbles and when the bubbles pop, they measure the radius, diameter, and circumference of the circles left by the bubbles (very quickly before they completely disappear)! After recording the data in a table, students work collaboratively to discover the relationship between radius, diameter, and circumference of a circle.