Lesson Plan
American Chemical Society

Middle School Chemistry: Density: Sink and Float for Solids

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students determine whether an object will sink or float by comparing its density to the density of water.
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Levitating Magnets: Floating Isn't Just for Magicians

For Students 3rd - 5th
If you ever seen a magician float an object in the air, you might think that levitation is just a magic trick, but the truth is you can use an invisible physical force to levitate a magnet. Try this simple, week-long science project to...
Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: Sink or Float

For Teachers 1st
Predict and test everyday objects as to whether they sink or float.
Activity
American Chemical Society

Inquiry in Action: Compare the Density of an Object to the Density of Water

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this activity, students use tea light candle holders and a student-made balance to compare the weight of equal volumes of wax, water, and clay. Students will discover that since the wax weighs less than an equal volume of water, it is...
Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: Physically Change Shape of Object

For Teachers 2nd
Science fair project tests whether students can construct a shape out of clay that will float.
Unit Plan
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Open Course Ware: Buoyancy

For Students 9th - 10th
Students explore buoyancy. Some topics examined in the activities are buoyant force, stability of floating objects, and Archimedes' principle. The resource consists of video clips, lecture notes, practice problems, and exam questions....
Lesson Plan
Better Lesson

Better Lesson: Floating and Sinking Sorting in Science

For Teachers K Standards
Students sort objects according to whether they sink or float.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Density of Solid Objects

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this science inquiry, students investigate whether volume or density of objects determine the floating or sinking in water. Using a rock and a block of wood teachers engage students in the discussion of density, mass and volume.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigating Floating and Sinking: Density

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This investigation introduces the concepts of volume, mass, and density and how they interact. Learners will make predictions of whether an object will float or sink after finding mass and volume of an object.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Sesame Street: Sink or Float Educator Guide

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
This is an educator's guide for a unit on things that sink or float. It includes lesson plans, experiments, and activities. Learners apply the scientific method as they investigate whether objects sink or float.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Mn Step: Sink or Float? Inquiry Investigation

For Teachers K - 1st
For this activity, students make predictions about whether different objects float or sink, then test them. They are asked to record their observations and results for each, and compare their results to others'.
Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Density in Relation to Float and Sink

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students find the densities of objects based on sinking or floating in this activity that demonstrates Archimedes Principle.
Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Floaters and Sinkers

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Through this curricular unit, students are introduced to the important concept of density. The focus is on the more easily understood densities of solids, but students may also explore the densities of liquids and gases. Students devise...
Unit Plan
Texas Education Agency

Texas Gateway: Ap Physics: Fluid Statics: Archimedes' Principle

For Students 11th - 12th
By the end of this section, you will be able to define buoyant force, state Archimedes' principle, understand why objects float or sink, and understand the relationship between density and Archimedes' principle.
Activity
Other

National Engineers Week Foundation: Flinker

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students investigate with common objects to see if they can make something that neither floats nor sinks, but rather "flinks" in the middle.
Activity
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Buoyancy Brainteasers: Buoyancy Question

For Students 3rd - 8th
This interactive brainteaser from the NOVA: "Voyage of Doom" Web site challenges you to figure out what causes an object to sink.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Buoyant Boats

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students learn about displacement, density and buoyancy then apply their knowledge to build a floating object.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: What's the Matter: A Sinker or Floater?

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Students will explore matter that sinks or floats when submerged in water and that matter is categorized as either a sinker or a floater. Students will work actively in small, cooperative learning groups as well as gather in a whole...
Lesson Plan
National Association of Geoscience Teachers

Nagt: Density Mystery Canisters

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students experiment with items that sink or float, and learn that water's density is equal to one, and objects/solutions with a density greater than one will sink, and those with a density less than one will float.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Mn Step: Solid and Liquid Density Investigation

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
For this activity, students investigate whether objects and liquids float or sink when placed in water. As they proceed, they will develop an understanding of what density is. Student handouts are provided.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Floaters and Sinkers

For Teachers 6th - 9th
This instructional activity introduces students to the important concept of density. The focus is on the more easily understood densities of solids, but students can also explore the densities of liquids and gases. Students devise...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Anchors Away

For Teachers 5th
In this activity, the students will discover the relationship between an object's mass and the amount of space it takes up (its volume). The students will learn about the concept of displacement and how an object can float if it...
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: What Are Those Floaty Things in Your Eye?

For Students 9th - 10th
Sometimes, against a uniform, bright background such as a clear sky or a blank computer screen, you might see things floating across your field of vision. What are these moving objects, and how are you seeing them? This video explains...
Interactive
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Junk in Space

For Students 5th - 8th
Did you know that there is millions of man-made "space junk" floating in orbit? This game will have you collecting space junk but you have to be careful not collect any objects that should be in space!

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