Cohesion, adhesion, and surface tension explain why water forms rounded droplets, spreads across some materials, and moves through narrow spaces. This Grade 8 Science worksheet explores these connected properties of water, helping students link visible observations to attractive interactions between molecules.

Students examine how cohesion keeps water molecules attracted to one another, while adhesion describes the attraction between water and a different material. They also investigate the meaning of surface tension and how it relates to water at a surface. The reading passage clarifies that surface tension is not a separate solid skin, but an effect of molecular attractions near the surface.

Connect water behaviour to scientific evidence

The resource brings these ideas together through familiar observations and examples. Students consider why a droplet can remain rounded, why water may spread across a surface, and how cohesion and adhesion work together during capillary action. The connection to plants shows how water can travel upward through narrow tubes, while the discussion of small organisms introduces the role surface tension can play at the water's surface.

Throughout the worksheet, students practise distinguishing related concepts rather than treating them as interchangeable terms. They interpret observations of droplets, wetting, and upward water movement, then use scientific vocabulary to explain the patterns they observe.

Question and activity formats

• A reading passage introduces the molecular attractions behind water's behaviour.
• Multiple-choice questions check understanding of cohesion, adhesion, surface tension, and capillary action.
• True-or-false statements address misconceptions, including the idea that surface tension creates a solid skin on water.
• Short-answer responses ask students to explain rounded droplets, compare molecular attractions, and connect water movement to plants.
• A matching activity reviews key terms and their meanings.
• A cloze passage reinforces essential vocabulary in context.
• An extended-response task asks students to explain several water-surface observations using all three properties.
• A Did You Know feature adds a further point of interest to the topic.

Included teaching resources

• Student worksheet: Combines reading, concept checks, vocabulary practice, and scientific explanation.
• Separate answer key PDF: Supports checking and reviewing student responses.
• Student Notes & Lesson Summary: Provides a supplementary resource for reviewing the lesson's central ideas.
• Separate Teacher Guide PDF: Includes learning objectives, teaching tips, discussion questions, and common mistakes.

Classroom use

Use this water properties worksheet to introduce molecular attractions before discussing water behaviour, reinforce vocabulary during a lesson, or review capillary action and surface tension afterward. It also works for independent practice, homework, or a written check of students' ability to connect observations with scientific explanations.

Designed for Grade 8 Science in the stated Texas Science 8 context of Matter, Water and Reactions, this resource gives teachers a focused way to teach the relationship between molecular interactions and visible water behaviour, with supporting materials for student review and lesson preparation.