Students determine whether a liquid will sink or float in water by comparing its density to the density of water.

This is an educator's guide for a unit on things that sink or float. It includes lesson plans, experiments, and activities. Students apply the scientific method as they investigate whether objects sink or float.

For a dramatic illustration of density check out this demonstration. It's simple to do, only requiring a bowling ball and some water.

Students investigate with common objects to see if they can make something that neither floats nor sinks, but rather "flinks" in the middle.

Throughout the activities in this investigation, students may have wondered how a boat made out of steel, which is more dense than water, can float. This activity addresses that question. Students will see that changing the shape of an...

The tradebook, Who Sank the Boat? by Pamela Allen, is an excellent tool in teaching measurement. Students will engage in activities involving different types of measurement. In the story, five animal friends decide to take a boat ride....

Learn about density in this hands-on science experiment. Includes full list of materials, procedures, and scientific explanation of what makes an object float or sink. [PDF]