Tub of Water
Water play provides an
ideal situation for language and concept development.
Objectives
Children participating
will be able to describe and relate verbally feelings, experiences, and
discoveries, initiate ideas for play SE IV
use a variety of approaches to solve a problem SE III
and take turns SE IV
Children ages 2-2 ½ years can pour from one container to another. FM I
Materials
Large galvanized wash
tub; plastic wading pool or any large tub; large pieces of plastic for floor;
food coloring; non-stinging soap; containers: plastic squeeze bottles, plastic
medicine bottles, berry baskets, funnels, strainers, large transparent
syringes, transparent plastic tubing (flexible and rigid).
Procedures
1. Place tub on floor
on top of plastic floor covering, near a water source if possible. Give
children plastic aprons (optional) to keep from getting wet. Let children help
fill the tub with warm water, using plastic containers.
2. Let the kids start exploring and playing with the water. Talk about how the
water feels. “Is it wet or dry? What do we do with water?”
3. Add the containers (a few at a time). Stay near the children to facilitate
exploration and language by asking questions and offering explanations. Watch
for what the children discover. Encourage other children to try the discovery
and help explain what is happening. Use suggestions that create problem-solving
situations, e.g. “I wonder if we could use the funnels to fill the bottles?” or
“Why doesn’t the water stay in the sieve?”
4. Show children how to make different bubbles using different objects, e.g. a
bottle held on its side below the surface of the water creates bubbles. Ask
them to make bubbles with their bottles. Suggest making bubbles by blowing
through flexing tubing, keeping one end under the water, or by squeezing
syringes under the water.
5. Have children fill larger containers with water from smaller containers.
“How many times did it take to fill the larger one? When you pour water form a
tall container into a wide, flat one, will it be more or less water?”
6. Have children pour water through a funnel. “How does it look?” Do the same
with the syringe. Have them fill containers using a funnel.  Variations: 1. Add food coloring
to clear water or add Ivory Flakes for bubbles. Add both coloring and Flakes
for colored bubbles. 2. Use a tub of
water in the play corner for washing dishes, babies, etc.
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