Does it Sink or Float?

Are you ready to become a real scientist?!

You will be working with a partner to conduct the experiment. You will complete the 4 steps of the scientific method for this exercise.  Let’s review the four steps:

Step 1- Observation- This is where you use your senses, such as smelling, hearing, tasting, seeing, and touching.

Step 2- Hypothesis- This is where you make a guess about what you think will happen.

Step 3-Test- This is where you test to see if your guess was right or wrong.

Step 4- Conclusion- This is where you write about whether your guess was right or wrong.

Each person will get to use all 4 steps of the scientific method to decide whether or not any of the 6 given items will float.  The items include a rock, paper clip, toy boat, penny, feather, and a balloon.

First, you will need to know what makes something float or sink. Listen to this online book to see how sinking and floating works. Here is a link for an online reading of the book:

Listen carefully and pay close attention.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsYb1YSYR34

Below are a few more reasons why something may float or sink. Click on the link to find out what they are:

This page shows how the shape, density and weight of an object can make it sink or float (allow teacher to discuss with the class and model the first three paragraphs)

Next, you will observe the 6 items to decide whether it is big or small, whether it is heavy or light, and its shape. Here are the items. Click on the links below to see them (you may need to scroll down the page a bit to see the pictures):

Rock-

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/teachers/train/rock3.htm

Toy Boat- 

http://www.skaneatelessuites.com/2008/07/25/toy-boat-regetta-on-skaneateles-creek/

Paper Clip-

http://mysticmedusa.com/2009/07/29/the-paper-clip-a-taurean-invention/

Penny-

http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-2992953-lincoln-penny-2007-on-white-background.php

Feather-

http://www.faqs.org/photo-dict/phrase/81/feather.html

Balloon-

http://www.faqs.org/photo-dict/phrase/2846/red-balloon.html

After seeing each of the pictures, ask yourself, Is it heavy or light? What is its shape? Is it big or small? Use the worksheet that the teacher has given you to record your observations. You may go back and look at each picture if you need to.

Now that you have closely looked at each item, you need to guess if it will sink or float.  Remember that the shape, size, and weight will make something sink or float.

Use your worksheet to record whether you think each item will float or sink.

Now it is time to see if your guess was right or wrong.  You will now place each item in water to see if it stays afloat or sinks to the bottom of the bowl.  Great job scientists, you have almost completed your experiment. Go and test your hypothesis!

If you finish before everyone else, you may play these floating or sinking game for more practice. Click on the link below to play. Have fun with Digger and the gang!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/digger/5_7entry/8.shtml

Here is another fun way to test what you have learned.  This is a way to challenge what you know.

http://www.authorstream.com:80/Presentation/tutray-142180-sink-or-float-science-education-ppt-powerpoint/