This experiment will allow you to apply the steps of scientific inquiry.  You will work in your group taking turns measuring and reporting the results.

First, you will need to print out your journal template. JOURNAL

Write a hypothesis.  What do you think will happen to each container over the time period of the experiment? What do you think affects the evaporation rate?  Why?  Are there other factors that will affect your experiment?  Temperature?  Humidity?

Materials
3  containers with varying size openings large enough to hold 100 ml of water.  Example: an empty peanut butter jar, single rose flower vase and a cereal bowl.  The diameter of each container should be different.  Measure the opening diameter of each container and the volume the container holds.
Graduated cylinder to measure water
300 ml of water- 100 ml for each container

Procedure

0. Pour 100 ml of water in each container.  Place the containers in an undisturbed location.
0. Write a hypothesis.  What do you think will happen to each container over the time period of the experiment? What do you think affects the evaporation rate?  Why?  Are there other factors that will affect your experiment?  Temperature?  Humidity?
0. Daily you will pour the water from each container back into a graduated cylinder to measure the volume of water. Record this information in a table along with the date and time to keep track of the volume of water in each container.  Try to make sure that you get as much water as you can back into the container after measuring.   In your journal you will record observations and questions that you think of during your data collection.  Example:

0. This experiment should have at least 5 separate entries so that your graph will show changes.
0. After you have collected your data you will need to create a graph with your measurements. You can create a graph on-line at: http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/default.aspx
0. Your chart may look something like this:

Remember to write down you observations every time you take measurements.

Click here to see the rubric for Evaluation.