Wet & Dry Bags

Objectives

• Use the sense of touch to differentiate between wet and dry objects.

Materials

• Per Student or Group:
  2 opaque plastic bags
  2 dishcloths or small towels, one wet and one dry (put them in separate bags before the activity begins)

Key Questions

• How does your cloth/towel feel? Is it wet or dry? How can you tell?

What To Do

1. Pass around the bags with the wet and dry cloths/towels.
2. Have children put their hands in the bags without peeking, and see if they can tell whether the cloth they touch is wet or dry.

Extensions

• The feeling of "wet" is a combination of cold and pressure. Try putting your hand into cold water while wearing a rubber glove. Even though you're not touching the water, your hand will still feel wet!
• Repeat this activity with wet and dry sand to introduce the related activity: Sandcastles.