Activity
Bill Nye

Bill Nye: Eggs Speriment

For Students 1st - 5th
Try this at-home science experiment to learn if salt affects the way things float.
Activity
PBS

Pbs Teachers:mysteries of the Deep: Leaky Seal

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Investigate the mystery of the sinking of the Confederate submarine Hunley. Explore the mechanics of waterproofing a seal, and compare and contrast the effectiveness of a metal-to-metal seal versus one that uses a rubber gasket.
Activity
Science is Fun

Science Is Fun: Dancing Raisins

For Students 4th - 8th
An experiment in buoyancy which involves making raisins float by using carbonated soda pop. Students then try the same test with other materials. Instructions for making one's own carbonated liquid are also provided.
Interactive
Sesame Street

Sesame Street: Games

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Help the Sesame Street characters while completing various early learning tasks. Students will develop language, reasoning skills, and independence as they play the games provided.
Interactive
PBS

Pbs: Sesame Street: Science

For Students Pre-K - 1st
A collection of interactives, videos, and documents on a variety science concepts.
Activity
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Submarine Race Experiment

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Balance the force of gravity with the force of the expanding gasses created by mixing baking soda and vinegar. Create a soda bottle submarine that sinks to the bottom of the bathtub and then rises back to the surface.
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
Michigan Reach Out

University of Michigan: Paper Clip Sailing

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Basic experiment that helps students learn about surface tension.
Lesson Plan
University of Florida

Florida Museum of Natural History: Investigating Water

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
This guide engages children in the process of scientific inquiry using the context of a favorite early childhood pastime-water play.
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
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Scientific American: Beneath the Sea: Blowing Ballast

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Explore the use of ballast to manipulate buoyancy in submarines by building a model of a submersible using two-liter bottles and balloons. Describe the balance of forces that is responsible for the surfacing and diving of submersibles.
Interactive
Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education, Stevens Institute of Technology

Stevens Institute of Technology: Buoyancy Simulation

For Students 9th - 10th
By choosing the mass, size, and time, students can experiment with whether the block floats or sinks in this simulation. Students have the option to display the forces and add a second block to the tank. Density is also shown to allow...
Activity
Science is Fun

Science Is Fun: The Cartesian Diver

For Students 3rd - 5th
A simple experiment in buoyancy where you discover how to make a packet of sauce or candy float or sink at will, and why you are able to do this.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Float or Sink?

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
Students will define density and use the density formula to determine the density, volume, and mass of various items using the correct units for each measurement.
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...
Activity
American Chemical Society

Inquiry in Action: Changing the Density of an Object: Adding Material

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this activity, students see that a can of regular cola sinks while a can of diet cola floats. As a demonstration, bubble wrap is taped to the can of regular cola to make it float. This high-volume but light-weight material increases...
Activity
American Chemical Society

Inquiry in Action: Defining Density

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Do heavy things always sink and light things always float? In this introductory demonstration and activity, students are introduced to the concept of density as they explore a rock and a wooden block in water.
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...
Activity
American Chemical Society

Inquiry in Action: Changing the Density of a Liquid: Adding Salt

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this activity, students will see that a carrot slice sinks in fresh water and floats in saltwater. Considering the placement of the carrot slice in water and salt water, students will infer that the density of salt water must be...
Activity
American Chemical Society

Inquiry in Action: Changing the Density of a Liquid: Heating and Cooling

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this activity, students will investigate whether the temperature of water affects its density. Students will place colored hot and cold water in a cup of room-temperature water to see that cold water sinks while hot water floats. Then...
Interactive
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Balloons & Buoyancy

For Students 9th - 10th
Experiment with a helium balloon, a hot air balloon, or a rigid sphere filled with different gases. Discover what makes some balloons float and others sink.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Down With the Clip!

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students see how surface tension can enable light objects (paper clips, peppercorns) to float on an island of oil in water, and subsequently sink when the surface tension of the oil/water interface is reduced by the addition of a...
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Floaters and Sinkers

For Teachers 6th - 9th
This lesson 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 methods to determine...
Lesson Plan
American Chemical Society

Middle School Chemistry: Chapter 3: Density

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Six interactive chemistry lessons about density complete with handouts and animations.

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