writer: Long Yaowu

photo by: Yang Chunbo

After the heavy rain, the children in the small class of Xiangshan Kindergarten gathered around a few small puddles by the playground, chirping like a flock of excited little sparrows.  

"Teacher, look! This water is so clear, like a mirror!"  

"Oh, why is that one gray and dirty over there?" A little finger pointed at the murky puddle, the child’s face filled with curiosity.  

The children’s innocent questions were like fresh sprouts after the rain, brimming with wonder and fascination for the world.  

The rain had sparked a strong interest in "water" among the children. To help them understand "how murky water becomes clear," we conducted a fun little science experiment with the little ones in the class!  

Little Scientists Explore the Mysteries!

The teacher prepared the materials for the experiment: several empty plastic bottles (with the top halves cut off and the edges carefully wrapped with tape to create small funnels), clean gauze, a few well-washed small pebbles, and a tray of pre-rinsed fine sand.  

The "clean water magic" began!

Guided by the teacher, the children carefully placed a layer of gauze over the mouth of each bottle, securing it with rubber bands—this was the first magical "checkpoint." Next, they added a layer of pebbles, followed by a layer of fine sand, and then another layer of pebbles. A charming "clean water sandwich" was now ready in each bottle!  

Magic Happens: Dirty Water Turns Clear!

The most exciting moment arrived! The teacher slowly poured the previously collected muddy rainwater (simulating dirty water) into the "clean water sandwich" funnels the children had made. All the little heads leaned in close, eyes wide and unblinking, as the murky water trickled through the layers of pebbles and sand... Drip, drip... A miracle unfolded! The water collected in the lower bottles had turned clear and bright!  

"Wow! The water is clean now!" The children cheered and clapped their hands. "The little stones and sand really cleaned the water!"  

The teacher smiled and nodded. "That’s right! The pebbles, sand, and gauze acted like three little checkpoints, trapping the dirt and mud layer by layer, making the water clean again."  

Tiny Drops, Big Mysteries!

This simple yet magical filtration experiment opened a new window for the children to observe the world. The murky rainwater, after passing through the "layered checkpoints" of pebbles, sand, and gauze, became clear once more. It vividly demonstrated the wonder of "filtration."  

Through this fun science experiment, the children touched the materials with their own hands and observed the changes in the water. While playing, they learned to distinguish between "clean" and "murky" and discovered the fascinating phenomenon of water "purification." This was not only their first step into scientific exploration but also planted seeds of curiosity and reflection: knowledge is everywhere in life, and even tiny drops of water hold big mysteries!  

Project Introduction:  

The Tengchong Preschools of the Future (POF) Project is funded by the Tin Ka Ping Foundation. In collaboration with the Tengchong Education and Sports Bureau, HPP assists in implementing the "One Village, One Preschool" policy. The project focuses on early education by improving preschool classroom facilities and teaching aids, providing regular professional training for teachers, and offering ongoing supervision to address challenges in daily teaching activities. Additionally, parent committees are established to conduct training and promote home-preschool collaboration. Emphasizing play-based teaching, the project supplies tools such as teacher management kits and instructional materials to expand access to rural preschool education and enhance its quality, ensuring more children receive high-quality early learning.  

This article reflects the author’s views and does not represent the stance of the funding organization.