The document describes an activity where students test various materials to see if they float or sink in water. They place materials one at a time in water and record their observations. Materials that floated included plastic bottles, plastic saucers, rubber balls and toys made of plastic or rubber. Materials that sank included pencils, erasers, metal spoons and stones. Students then analyze what properties cause certain materials to float, like being made of Styrofoam or balsa wood, while other heavier or porous materials sink.

1. Materials that Float and Sink
MATHLEEN G. DESCALZO
MACUGAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

2. REVIEW
 Let us go back to the activity we did in our
previous lesson. Can you still recall it?
 What do you remember about the lesson?
 Which materials absorbed water? Which did not?
 Today we will do another activity and will try to
discover more characteristics of the materials
around us.

3. What are the standards in doing an activity?

4. What materials float and what materials sink?
1. The leader will get the plastics bottles with cover.
2. Ask the other members to describe the characteristics of the plastic
bottles cover.
3. The recorder will record the descriptions in a chart.

5. 4. Pour water into the pail or basin.
5. Observe the plastic bottle with cap while in water. Did it float or
sink?
6. Lift the plastic bottle with cover from the pail. Did the plastic bottle
absorb water?
7. Record your observation.
8. Do the same procedures in steps 4-7 for the rest of the materials
left.

6. Name of Material Characteristics of the material
BEFORE placing it in water
Observation as to whether the
materials float or sink
1. Plastic bottle with cover
2. Plastic saucer
3. Pencil
4. Eraser
5. Metal spoon
6. Large stone
7. Plastic book cover
8. Rubber ball
9. Styropore cup
10. Toy boat made of wood
11. Toy duck made of rubber
12. Toy doll made of plastic

7. a. What did you observe when you placed the materials
one at a time in water?
b. Based on the activity, which of the materials sank?
c. Which of the materials floated?
d. Look at the group of objects that floated. Compare
them. Is there anything common among each one?
e. Look at the group of objects that sank. What can you
say about them?
f. What is the common among one of them?

8. Materials that float Materials that sink

9. What is the difference?
Sink means…
To fall to the bottom
of water
Float means…
To stay on top

10. Some things float on top of water, some things
stay submerged partway down, and some things
sink.
Some things sink very fast and some things sink
very slowly.

11.  An object’s shape can affect its ability to float, but some
materials float no matter what their shape – such as
Styrofoam and balsa wood.
 Some things float at first, but then sink as they absorb
water or take water on through holes.

12.  Why do some people use floaters
(salbabida) in swimming pools?
 People use floaters in swimming
pool to keep them afloat in water.

13.  Explain why large boats or
ships float on water.
 Large ships and boats float on
water because the upward
push of the water is greater
than their weights.

14.  Explain why life vest keep you
afloat in the sea?
 Life vests keeps us afloat in
water because it makes us
occupy a bigger space,
increasing the upward force of
the water on us making us
float

15. Classify materials according to whether they float or sink in
a body of water

16. Assignment
Go to your kitchen. Get five materials and test
whether they float or sink