2
Which soaks up most?
Workbook 2: Topic 3.4, pp. 38–40
GoalDo a test to compare how absorbent different materials are and show the results in a block graph.
New words
absorbent · soaks up watersoak up · to take water incompare · to say how things are the same or different
Explanation
Yuki wants to find out which material is the most absorbent. She puts one piece of each material, all the same size, on a plate. She pours water on it slowly, one spoonful at a time. When water stays on top, the material cannot soak up any more. She counts how many spoonfuls it soaked up. She draws a block graph. The tallest block is the most absorbent material.
Worked examples
Yuki tested a sponge, kitchen paper, a cotton cloth and a plastic bag. The sponge soaked up 8 spoonfuls. It is the most absorbent.
The plastic bag soaked up none. It is not absorbent at all.
| Material | Spoonfuls soaked up |
|---|---|
| sponge | 8 |
| kitchen paper | 5 |
| cotton cloth | 4 |
| plastic bag | 0 |
Class activity
Soak-up test (with an adult): put a sponge, kitchen paper, a cotton cloth and a piece of plastic bag, all the same size, one at a time on a plate. Pour water on each one spoonful at a time. Count the spoonfuls before water stays on top. Draw a block graph. Wipe up spills.
Practice
1
Look at Yuki’s results. Which material soaked up the least water?
The plastic bag. It soaked up none.
2
How many more spoonfuls did the sponge soak up than the cloth?
4 more (8 − 4 = 4).
3
Amir tested three other materials. Put them in order from most to least absorbent.
Paper towel (7), wool sock (6), foil (0).
4
Which is the better material for a mop?
A, the sponge, because it is absorbent.