Buoyant Boats

Build a floating vessel capable of carrying cargo. Groups create a vessel that floats and can carry at least 10 pennies to model a mass transit system. After learning about buoyancy, density, and energy, they redesign their vessels in...

There must be a catch! A comprehensive lesson looks at ocean fishing concerns through a set of five hands-on activities. Learners become aware of the risks of seafood contamination and factors that have affected the ocean environment.

Learners discover buoyancy by creating model boats.  In this water science instructional activity, students discover the physical properties of water and how floating is possible with large ships by building model boats from recycled...

Use this resource to discuss the Archimedes Principle and buoyancy in your classroom.  Learners use modeling clay to make, test, and record water data and analyze this principle. They come up with ideas to make the ball of clay float,...

Students design and build a floating vessel with its own propulsion system that will carry cargo across a wading pool.

Third graders complete an experiment to introduce them to the concept of water pressure. In this water pressure lesson plan, 3rd graders create pressure in a water bottle and observe the force of water that is created.

Students use materials found at a resource table to design simple devices that will house instruments to take water samples from a tub of water. They design 3 instruments, each varying in density so that one will float, one will hover...

Students explore buoyancy and displacement.  In this Archimedes Principle science lesson, students predict which household items will float and which will sink, then test them in water. Students watch a video about Archimedes Principle,...

Students study water molecules and how they interact with each other to enable objects to both float and sink.

Fourth graders explore the concept of mass and buoyancy. After building boats out of several materials, they predict whether each boat floats if certain objects are added. Students test their predictions and draw conclusions from their...