Reading and Following Directions

In my English for Engineering class, I developed this activity to help them practice reading and following directions.  It turned out really well!

Reading to Follow Directions: Absorbency

Question 1: How does a diaper absorb liquid?

Question 2: How much liquid can a diaper absorb?

Materials:

•       1 super-absorbent, disposable diaper
•       Scissors
•       1 ziploc plastic bag
•       Blue food coloring
•       2 disposable cups
•      Water

 Read and put the directions in order as best you can.  Then, check the answer key and do the experiment.

______ a. Pour the granules into one of the disposable cups.

______ b. Still leaving your hands inside the bag, lift the diaper material to the top of the bag and shake it for about thirty seconds.  You will see white granules, the size of salt, fall to the bottom of the bag.

______ c. Add the blue water slowly to the granules, drop by drop. See how much of the blue liquid the granules will absorb.  Record the amount in your notebook.

______ d. Cut the padded center into two equal halves.  Insert the two halves into a Ziploc bag.

______ e. With your hands inside the bag, pull apart the layers from the diaper. 

______ f. When about ½ tsp of granules are in the bottom of the bag, pull the material out and discard.

______ g. Use a pair of scissors to cut off the plastic edge on the diaper.  Leave only the padded center.  Discard the edge material. 

______ h. Fill the second disposable cup with water.  Add 3 drops of blue food coloring.

Answer Key:

1. Use a pair of scissors to cut off the plastic edge on the diaper.  Leave only the padded center.  Discard the edge material.
2. Cut the padded center into two equal halves.  Insert the two halves into a Ziploc bag.
3. With your hands inside the bag, pull apart the layers from the diaper. 
4. Still leaving your hands inside the bag, lift the diaper material to the top of the bag and shake it for about thirty seconds.  Allow the granules to fall to the bottom of the bag.
5. When about ½ tsp of granules are in the bottom of the bag, pull the material out and discard.
6. Pour the granules into one of the disposable cups.
7. Fill the second disposable cup with water.  Add 3 drops of blue food coloring.
8. Add the blue water slowly to the granules, drop by drop. See how much of the blue liquid the granules will absorb.  

Vocabulary Learned:

After your experiment, try to figure out these words from context.

discard – if you discard something, you probably put it ______________________________________. (Think about where you put the material today)

disposable – if the cups are disposable, after you use it, you can _______________________________________________________.  (What are we going to do with these cups after today?)

granules – a granule is another word for __________________________. (eg, _____________ of sand)

record – if you record the information, you ___________________________________________________.