Lesson - Things that Float and Things that Don't

Things that Float and Things that Don't!

Materials:

-Container or tub of water-your kitchen sink or a backyard swimming pool

-A collection of items to test:

feather, cork, apple, tin foil, penny or other coin, empty soda bottle, soap pebble, ice cubes, paper cup, salt, egg

or any other miscellaneous items you have in your home that you would like to test out and see if it floats   ie. Wooden blocks, buttons, marbles, screw, sponge, leaves, toy boats and lego people who want to go sailing! 

Sparkle Words: experiment, density, dissolved, displaces

Printable recording sheet: Does It Float Recording Sheet

1. Find things around the house that won’t be damaged by water. Make a list of what you found. (students could draw and or write the name of each item.)  Next to each item on the list write whether you think it will float. Make your best guess and record your answer on your page.  Then record what you see after you perform your experiment!
2. Read the story and pause to watch and perform each experiment. This story contains a collection of experiments relating to density and explaining why things float.