Sink or Float

spoon  paper clip      marker
                        




Objective:  Observe and classify objects that sink or float

Grade Level: K-1

Materials:  (one per group) small plastic baggies, containers filled with water, paper clips, toy cars, rubber bands, plastic spoons, bottle caps, markers, twigs

Duration: 20-30 min

Directions:  * Explain to the students that an object floats when its density is less than the density of water.
                 * Give each group a container filled with water and a plastic baggie filled with a paper clip, toy car, rubber    
                    band, plastic spoon, bottle cap, marker, and a twig.
                 * Ask the students to make predictions about what objects they think will sink and which ones will float.
                 * Have each member of the groups take turns dropping the objects in the water and ask them to observe what
                    happens.
                 * After each group has dropped all of the objects in the water, ask the class to gather as a whole and discuss
                    what objects floated and which ones sunk. 
                 * While the class is discussing out loud, make a chart on the board and write or draw the objects that sank or
                    floated.  (see below)
                                                         Sink                    Float                         
                                                    paper clip                  twig
                                                    plastic spoon             marker
                                                    toy car                      rubber band 
                                                                                    bottle cap


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Reference:  www.teachnet-lab.org/miami/2001/delancyc/sinkorfloat.html