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Science Launch G5 / Week 07 / Wednesday
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Week 07 · Sunlight in Your Food

Wednesday

Investigation: Catching sunshine
// Food energy was once sunlight
⏱ about 15 min

Wednesday: Investigation: Catching sunshine

Rocket fills two plastic cups with water from the same tap. "Same water, same cups," he says.

Raven sets one cup in a bright sunny window. She sets the other in a shady corner.

"Plants catch the Sun's energy," she says. "Can a cup of water catch some too?"

Nova blinks. "In one hour, test them with a fingertip," she says. "What do you think you will notice?"

Rocket starts the timer. "Waiting is the hardest part of science," he sighs.

What you need

  • Two clear plastic cups
  • Cool tap water
  • A sunny window and a shady spot
  • A timer
Safety first
Use cool tap water only. No hot water and no heat source.
Do not look at the Sun while you place your cup.
Do not drink the water. Pour it on a plant when you finish.

Steps

  1. Fill both cups with the same amount of cool tap water.
  2. Place one cup in direct sunlight.
  3. Place the other cup in the shade.
  4. Make your prediction below.
  5. Wait one hour.
  6. Dip one fingertip into each cup and compare.
MAKE A PREDICTION
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
After one hour, which cup do you predict will feel warmer?
CupCool, a little warm, or warm?
Sunny window
Shady spot

Sunlight carries energy. When it shines on the water, some of that energy warms the water.

Plants do something even more amazing. They store sunlight energy inside the sugar they make.

What carried energy to the sunny cup? Type one word.
WHY THIS EXERCISEThe sunny cup gained energy from sunlight, the same energy plants capture to make food.

Energy you can feel

The sunny cup probably felt warmer than the shady cup.

Sunlight carried energy to the water and warmed it.

Plants catch sunlight energy too, and they store it in the sugar they make.

CUP THINKING
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Why did both cups get the same amount of water?
What was the one thing that changed between the cups?
StatementTrue or false?
Sunlight carries energy.?
The shady cup caught more sunlight.?
Plants store sunlight energy in sugar.?
WHY THIS EXERCISESunlight carries energy, and plants store it in sugar.

You felt the Sun's energy with your own hand. Tomorrow we will follow it from plant to animal to animal.

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