Students discover the Archimedes principle through a buoyancy experiment. They measure the water displacement of a lump a clay which is denser than water then reshape the clay into a bowl which floats but displaces more water.

Students investigate the concept of rising air in the formation of clouds and precipitation. In this rising air activity, students conduct an experiment with hot and cold water that shows how warm water rises due to thermal buoyancy....

Students form hypotheses and carry out an investigation in order to answer a central question: Does soap float? The focus of this lesson is on scientific inquiry, but it incorporates scientific topics such as sinking and floating.

Young scholars work with "ice" in order to gain a practical application of math concepts that evolve into an inquiry-based study. They determine if the dimensions of the ice make a difference in the way the ice floats in the water.

Students construct their own submarine following a certain procedure. In this physics lesson, students calculate the density of objects using a mathematical formula. They explain why some object floats in water while some do not.

Learners write and explain why an object sinks or floats.  In this buoyancy instructional activity students demonstrate how items float or sink and graph the results. 

Students study buoyancy with an in-class experiment.  In this water properties instructional activity, students create a boat from aluminum foil and float it in a bucket of water.  Students utilize coins to change the weight of...

Students predict whether their hands be warmer in ice water with or without a blubber mitten. They construct a blubber mitten using plastic, Crisco and compare their results with a control group. They observe how this affects buoyancy too.

What do cereal, fog, and space shuttles have to do with newspapers? A collection of science investigations encourage critical thinking using connections to the various parts of the newspaper. Activities range from building origami seed...

Sixth graders develop an understanding of floating, sinking, density, and buoyancy and apply it to the design of testing of ships.

A referenced PowerPoint is not included, but this lesson plan can still make an impact with emerging environmentalists. After introducing them to the facts about overfishing, they experiment with a fishing simulation using colored beads...

Learners view a video and discuss the mechanics of a hot air balloon. They, in groups, construct a functioning hot air balloon.

In this density laboratory worksheet, students complete 2 prior knowledge questions, then use the "Density Laboratory Gizmo" to complete several activities, answering short answer questions when finished.

Students investigate how changing pressure affects density. For this physics lesson, students explain the relationship between density and pressure. They observe the Cartesian diver in the lab as pressure is changed inside.

Students study Archimedes' Principle, flotation and the reaction of buoyant forces and explain the relationship between density and flotation.

Students explain that some things can float on top of water because of what we call "surface tension." They see that if something happens to disturb these water molecules from tugging on each other, the skin-like surface breaks up.

Students elicit data on the water cycle, ocean topography, and island formation in this six lesson unit. The ocean floor and the properties of water are examined through a variety of discussions and hands-on experiments.

Students discover how salt water makes a pencil float better than freshwater by measuring and comparing the lengths of the portion of the pencil that floats above the water surface. They then determine if an unknown water sample is...

Students design a craft that safely floats vegetables across a classroom. The teacher provides some materials, but the child may as well. As the experiment is created, they have to fill out worksheets to keep the actiivity organized....

Students examine a density demonstration involving ice cubes and beakers of water and alcohol. After observing how one ice cube floats in water and sinks in alcohol, they determine which mixture of the two would suspend the ice cube in...

In this Cartesian diver lab, students explain using text and diagrams how the Cartesian diver works. Students evaluate ways in making their lab design better. Students make predictions of how changing the variable would change the...

Students investigate Ballast systems in submarines. In this ballast lesson, students conduct experiments that show how a Ballast system works. Students will then create a model of a submarine's ballast system.

Learners conduct a variety of exploration activities on various science topics. For this science lesson outline, students design a cell encapsulation to hold a specific type of medicine. They give examples of physical and chemical...

Present the class with a question on whether the water level of a pond will rise they take a large rock out of a boat and drop it into the pond. Groups come down on all sides of the question and try to justify their answers. The activity...