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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Do Some Things Float?

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students recognize that density determines whether objects sink or float.  In this sink or float lesson, students experiment with plastic in three liquids. students drop their objects into the liquids and observe and record their results.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How to Float an Egg

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Use the scientific method to experiment with an egg. Your class can examine buoyancy and density by finding how many spoons of salt are needed to float an egg. They can predict, experiment, record data, and analyze results.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

To Float or Not to Float, That is the Question?

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders develop operational definition of density, do computations using density equation, categorize pieces of matter as being able to float on water or not, based on density, explain why some objects sink or float based on...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I'm Warm Now

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders graph how much water is wasted while waiting for it to get warm in the spigot in the sink. In this graphing lesson plan, student first predict how much water is wasted. That night they test it out at home and the next day...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Liquids: Floating and Sinking

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders conduct an experiment. In this floating and sinking liquids instructional activity, 3rd graders discuss density and investigate it using syrup, vegetable oil and colored water. Students observe the results and complete a...
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Activity
Museum of Science

Design a Submarine

For Teachers K - 6th Standards
Don't just sink the boat. Using a closed container as a submarine, pupils experiment to see what to add to the container to make it float, sink to the bottom, and hover in the middle. After finding one option, learners see if they can...
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Activity
University of Waikato

Buoyancy in Water

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Change where an object floats in water. Pupils experiment with a Cartesian diver by squeezing on the side of a plastic bottle. Learners pay attention to the bulb of the pipette as the bottle is squeezed to determine what is happening...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Grand Designs And Great Failures

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars extend their understanding of floating, sinking, density, and buoyancy and apply it to the design and testing of ships. students discover that most ships are constructed very similarly-whether they are schooners or...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ships 3: Grand Designs And Great Failures

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students engage in this, the third in a three-part series on ships. The overall lesson series is designed to allow students to extend their understanding of floating, sinking, density, and buoyancy and apply it to the design and testing...
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PPT
Curated OER

States of Matter

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Properties in measurement, pressure and viscosity of solids, liquids, and gases are the main topics covered in this slideshow. The explanations of Pascal's, Bernoulli's, and the Venturi effects are very clear. Easy to understand diagrams...
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Lesson Plan
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Center for Learning in Action

Density

For Teachers 2nd - 5th Standards
Explore the concept of density within states of matter—gases, liquids, and solids—through a group experiment in which young scientists test objects' texture, color, weight, size, and ability to sink or float.    
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Unit Plan
University of Southern Indiana

Manifest Density

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
There's a lot content packed into the four lessons of this physical science unit on density. From salad dressing to the water cycle and hot air balloons, these lessons engage students in hands-on activities that explore real-world...
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Activity
Exploratorium

Descartes' Diver

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pique interest in water pressure, demonstrate buoyancy, and explore water displacement concepts with a homemade Cartesian diver. You may want to change the name of the toy, however, as is is not documented the Rene Descartes actually...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Density - An Introduction

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Learners experiment with objects of different densities. In this density lesson, students examine same-sized objects with different weights, then look at a teacher explanation of density. Learners make wave bottles and a density jar to...
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Lesson Plan
Reach Out!

Paper Clip Sailing

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students explore water, molecules, and surface tension. In this floatation lesson, students discover why some objects are able to float on water as they follow the procedures included in this activity.
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Activity
Royal Society of Chemistry

A Cartesian Diver—Classic Chemistry Experiments

For Teachers 6th - 10th Standards
Sometimes the simplest experiments leave the biggest impression! Introduce young chemists to the Cartesian Diver by having them make one of their own. Use the Diver to further their study of liquids and gases, as well as compression.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Density Challenge

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students calculate the densities of several liquids that appear similar.  In this physical science lesson, students go beyond understanding the way liquids of different densities behave to researching how this knowledge applies in real...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

It's A Gas!

For Students 5th
Fifth graders complete a worksheet which has them place a list of gases in order from the least to the most dense. The density in grams is given for each. There's a good paragraph which provides background knowledge about the volatility...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Center for Learning in Action

Properties of Balls

For Teachers 2nd - 5th Standards
Enhance your states of matter lessons with a hands-on science investigation that compares six different balls' color, texture, size, weight, ability to bounce, and buoyancy.