Tutor Niedino: Pri Science Questions and Concepts

[ChiefKiasu]

Way2GO:

Hi Niedino,

Very nice of you to start this thread and help all interested parties in discussing science at primary school level and clearing common misconceptions.

You mentioned that steam is technically hot water vapour.
The descriptions 'water vapour' and 'steam' are used interchangeably in common usage even by adults, though there are differences.

Steam is a gas formed when water is vapourized during boiling or evaporation. However water vapour can exist at various temperatures eg water vapour is all around us; the level of humidity we feel is a measure of the amount of water moisture(vapour) in the air.

Both water vapour and steam are water in its gaseous state and both are invisible to the naked eye.
The question I like to clarify with you is, for the purpose of primary school science exams,
\"can students use steam and water vapour interchangeably?\"

Water evaporates at ALL temperatures between 0 to 100 degrees Celsius (where water remains in liquid state). Steam is water vapour at 100 degrees Celsius.

The rate of evaporation depends on various factors affecting the ability of the water to vaporize into its surrounding atmosphere. In space, where there is no atmosphere and pressure, the outer surface of a water droplet will immediately vaporize, but the act of evaporation will lower the temperature of the core of the droplet so quickly that it becomes ice.

[Sun_2010]

Niedino:

I thought of starting with a powerful Science Misconception.

Here's a misconception of the week for all.

Is a seed a living thing?

Lets' hear some responses before I post ok? (Professional Sickness) :lol:

Ninedino, how to sleep without seeing the answer? :x
The problem with these primary school science is this- If you thing too much you sure get confused.

waiting....

[elkniwt]

Niedino:

I thought of starting with a powerful Science Misconception.

Here's a misconception of the week for all.

Is a seed a living thing?

Lets' hear some responses before I post ok? (Professional Sickness) :lol:

My dd (P4) says that yes, it is cos it can grow into a living thing. What is the answer??

[CoffeeCat]

Niedino:

I thought of starting with a powerful Science Misconception.

Here's a misconception of the week for all.

Is a seed a living thing?

Lets' hear some responses before I post ok? (Professional Sickness) :lol:

I guess not. A similar thought-provoking analogy might be is a fertilised egg a living thing.

[Niedino]

Hi all,


thanks for all the responses! Hmm there is no perfect answer actually, as this is a question to develop pupil's thinking. But in the primary Science syllabus, we consider the seed to be a living thing. A few reasons why.

1. A living thing needs air, food and water. A seed needs air (oxygen), warmth and water to germinate, while the seed coat provides the food for the young plant before it has leaves.

2. A living thing can grow, and a seed can grow into a young plant.

3. A living thing can respond to changes while a seed needs warmth to germinate.

4. A living thing can reproduce and a seed can reproduce, after it grows to become an adult plant.

5. Lastly, a cooked seed while not germinate as the heat has \"killed\" it. Living things can die right so a seed dies when it's exposed to extreme heat.

So we can consider an uncooked seed a living thing, and explain to our kids using the basic Science concepts I have outlined.

Hope it helps

[Niedino]

ChiefKiasu:

Water evaporates at ALL temperatures between 0 to 100 degrees Celsius (where water remains in liquid state). Steam is water vapour at 100 degrees Celsius.

Hi ChiefKiasu and Way2go,

Yes you're both right. ChiefKiasu your explanation has taught me a lot too. Currently, the topic of water is taught in the Upper Block at P5, so the kids are better in understanding the 3 states of water. In the examinations, it depends on how the Science question is asked. If I were the marker, if a question tests the concept of boiling, and the \"water vapour\" is at 100 degree Celsius, I might accept \"hot water vapour\" or \"steam\" as an acceptable answer. But if the question looks at the rate of evaporation at all temperatures, then steam is definitely a wrong concept.

In short, they are not interchangeable and it'll be good to teach your children the distinction of both.

Hope it helps!

[Way2GO]

Niedino:

4. A living thing can reproduce and a seed can reproduce, after it grows to become an adult plant.

This point was mentioned, but my DS2 replied that
it is the plant that reproduces, not the seed that grows into the plant.
Is his thinking flawed?
How do I reconcile it?
BTW he is in P4.

[Niedino]

Way2GO:

Niedino:

4. A living thing can reproduce and a seed can reproduce, after it grows to become an adult plant.

This point was mentioned, but my DS2 replied that
it is the plant that reproduces, not the seed that grows into the plant.
Is his thinking flawed?
How do I reconcile it?
BTW he is in P4.

Hi Way2go,

All living things need to start from somewhere, and a seed is where a living thing begins. A seed that can grow is a fertilized cell, that is there is an embryo already inside it. Just like all living things, plants have to grow to maturity before they have the ability to reproduce. Cockroach nymphs, chicks, even us humans need to mature before we can reproduce. That's how I would help some kids to understand.

No offense, it does seem to me that your child has quite firm \"beliefs\" so it does take some persuasion to rid them of certain misconceptions.

Hope it helps

[Sun_2010]

Way2GO:

Niedino:

4. A living thing can reproduce and a seed can reproduce, after it grows to become an adult plant.

This point was mentioned, but my DS2 replied that
it is the plant that reproduces, not the seed that grows into the plant.
Is his thinking flawed?
How do I reconcile it?
BTW he is in P4.

O, that reminds me of the question

Is egg a hen's way of producing another hen?
Or is hen an egg's way of producing another egg?

LOL- this is not there in Primary science

[Niedino]

[quote]elkniwt: I guess not. A similar thought-provoking analogy might be is a fertilised egg a living thing.[/quote]
So since an analogy was raised, A good one I must say :celebrate: time for another thought provoking question.

Is an egg a living thing? :?

A disclaimer: I am using the Primary Science Syllabus so please bear with me for any overly-simplified views and explanations. The questions that I posed are questions that my pupils often have difficulty grasping, hence I'm sharing these experiences with everyone. Do pose your questions as well.