Lesson Idea | Curious George: Water Drops Lesson Plan

Children learn what happens when colored water mixes and a new color is formed in this lesson plan featuring hands-on activities and a video excerpt from Curious George. Children begin by watching a video in which George gets into trouble with some pots of colored water—he falls into a pot while getting a lesson in dyeing eggs! Next, children look at photos of raindrops and dewdrops and make observations. Then, they get hands on with water drops to explore what happens when they use a straw and an eyedropper to move the water drops around. Finally, they use food coloring to explore color mixing, just like George!

This lesson is part of the Curious George STEM Collection.

Lesson Summary

In this lesson plan, children discover what happens when colored water mixes and a new color is formed! Children begin by watching a video in which George gets into trouble with some pots of colored water—he falls into a pot while getting a lesson in dyeing eggs! Next, children look at photos of raindrops and dewdrops and make observations. Then, they get hands on with water drops to explore what happens when they use a straw and an eyedropper to move the water drops around. Finally, they use food coloring to explore color mixing, just like George! As children go through the activities, they will be using the following science skills: asking questions; testing and retesting; and identifying and describing sensory observations.

Time Allotment

1 hour

Learning Objectives

1. Understand that water drops may stick to each other and to other objects.
2. Understand that the natural shape of a water drop is round, but the shape may change depending on the size of the drop or on the forces acting on the drop.
3. Understand that one or more colors can be combined to make a new color.

Prep for Teachers

- Tips for Success
Background photos help children make connections between the activity they are doing in the activity and phenomena in the natural world.

- Supplies
For both the dry table and the wet table

1. Background Photos: pictures of dewdrops, raindrops, etc.
2. Plastic trays or baking sheets with rims—1 for each child
3. Wax paper, to place on the trays
4. Plastic eyedroppers (inexpensive, child-friendly sets can be ordered online or purchased at local school supply stores)
5. Small containers of water
6. Food coloring, for tinting the water
7. Drinking straws (cut in half)
8. Container for pouring off excess water
9. Paper towels for clean up
10. Optional: Curious George magnifying lenses

Learning Activities

1. George Mixes Colors
Tell children that they will begin by watching Curious George learn about mixing colors when he gets a lesson in dyeing eggs. Show the Curious George: Water Drops video. Ask the following questions:

- What happened when Steve first dipped an egg into yellow dye and then into blue dye?
- What happened with George dipped the banana into blue dye and then into red dye?
- George fell into the yellow dye. What might happen if “yellow George” jumps into the blue dye? What might happen if “yellow George” jumps into the red dye? Are there any other color combinations he can make?

For further information, please visit PBS LearningMedia website.