An interesting science activity to do with children.

1. Float?
Sink or Float?
Grade Level: Kindergarten Grouping: Whole class
Objectives: Observe and classify objects that float or sink Life Skills: Observing
Time: Varying Vocabulary: sink, float
Introduction:
Stimulate the children's thinking by having them to first give their prior knowledge about things
that sink and float.
Materials:
Small plastic baggies,
several small tubs filled
with water (as needed),
corks, pencils, paper
clips, crayons, twigs of
wood, marbles, plastic
spoons, several bars of
soap and a record sheet
for each science team.
Procedures:
Give each group a record
sheet and a tub of water
(try not to have more than three children in each group). Then give each group a small baggie
filled with a cork, pencil, paper clip, crayon, twig or wood, marble, plastic spoon and a bar of
soap. Ask the students to make predictions of which items that they think will sink and which
items that they think will float.
During the experiment and record portion, have the students in the science groups to take turns
dropping each object into their container of water. Ask them to observe what happens. Instruct
them to complete the Sink or Float Record Sheet. Have the students to discuss as a total class
why certain things sunk while other did not.
Have students open their Field Notes and record what happened during the experiment.
Ask Earl a question about sinking and floating, then play Sing or Float at Nick Jr.
Home Learning:

2. Have the students to design and create a vehicle that floats. Inform them to use materials that
they can find around their homes. All designs are to be brought back to school to be explained
and tested.
Evaluation:
Give each student a worksheet with pictures of each of the experiment items. Have them to cut
and paste them correctly on individual science posters labeled "Sink or Float".
Sink Float
1.___________ 1.____________
2.___________ 2.____________
3.___________ 3.____________
Extension: Story Tree
• Have students write a story about an amphibian using a story
tree
• Using desktop publishing draw, create a tree template with eight
lines, the first line being the shortest and each line getting
longer to accommodate words
• Follow the directions
• Write
line 1. the name of the amphibian
line 2. two words of who are enemies of the amphibian
line 3. three words of who are friends of the amphibian
line 4. four words about what the animal eats
line 5. five words that describe what he looks like
line 6. six words that tell about its babies
line 7. seven words that describe where the animal lives
line 8. eight words on how it hides from its enemies
• Proofread, spell check, print
• Share with class
Field Trip:
Take the students to visit a local pond. Observe the pond life that dwells on top of the water and
that that dwells on the bottom. Students will complete a Pond Life Record of Field Trip.
Resources:
Boardman, Christine. Better Than Book Reports. Scholastic: New York. 1992.