Transcript #1: Teacher - Student Interview

Video #1: TEACHER – STUDENT INTERVIEW

Teacher:  Okay, I’m going to give you a scenario and have you think about the scenario. ok

So, a group of kids were sitting outside on a warm day. One of them had a large paper cup of  soda with a plastic lid and a straw. So after a few minutes they noticed that the cup was wet. One students said, “hey my cup is leaking, another student said it cant be, it wouldn't leak all over it would just be on the bottom and the other student said its sweating because it is so hot out. And another student said little bits of water are small enough to get through paper. Ok, so can YOU explain what is happening?

Student: So, it was basically, it was hot outside, so the water inside started to evaporate and then like, well there is condensation and it gathered on the outside and then it formed small droplets of water.

Teacher: So, the water in the cup evaporated …

Student: and then some of the water went through the cup or got outside the cup and then it grouped together and … and

Teacher: So, then what caused it again to happen?

Student: The heat, hum broke apart the water and turned it to water vapor.

Teacher: So, scientists use models to represent and explain things that are too small to see with their eyes.  If you made a model of this what would it look like. Like if you had a magnifying class would you be able to see what was happening? (Hands student white board with pre-drawn cup) Can you draw a model of what is happening? and kind of explain. You can use labels and whatever you want.

Student draws and labels water vapor on cup

Student: This is water vapor, this is a collection of water vapor on the outside of the cup, like right here. and here are little bits of it and it comes out right here and some of them group together and since the outside of the cup, well since the water and stuff would still be cold then it would like group together and cool and turn back into water.

Teacher: can you draw some arrows and show how the water is moving?

Student: Uh HUH! 

Student draw the water moving through the cycle.

Teacher: Ok, so can you think of any other examples of this, other than a cup on a warm day. like with water and evaporation and things like that?

Student: Ya like.. in the ocean when it gets really hot small bits of water vapor gets into the air and then it keep on grouping and grouping and gets together with dust and it forms clouds and then once the water gets too heavy it starts to rain.

Teacher:  And do you know the name of this?

Students: Uhm well yeah I think its like the water cycle or something???