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
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Density & Miscibility

For Teachers 7th - 9th
After students conduct the two associated activities, Density Column Lab - Parts 1 and 2, present this lesson to provide them with an understanding of why the density column's oil, water and syrup layers do not mix and how the concepts...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Density Column Lab Part 2

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Concluding a two-part lab activity, students use triple balance beams and graduated cylinders to take measurements and calculate densities of several household liquids and compare them to the densities of irregularly shaped objects (as...
Activity
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Layering Liquids

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
A lab activity to show students how different densities of liquid layer on top of each other by using four different colored liquids that contain different levels of salinity. This activity can also be used in an ocean unit where...
Graphic
American Chemical Society

Middle School Chemistry: Density Sink and Float for Liquids

For Students 9th - 10th
See how different liquids can have different densities depending on their molecular make-up.
Lesson Plan
Climate Literacy

Clean: What Happens to Ice in Water?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students investigate the properties of water in the ice and liquid phase as it relates to convection in the ocean and density driven circulation, and ultimately the climate.
Activity
Science Museum of Minnesota

Science Museum of Minnesota: Thinking Fountain: Density

For Students 3rd - 7th
An introduction to density, mass, and volume with links to related books and activities.
Activity
My Science Site

Thinking Fountain: Liquid Layers [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Students contrast the densities of oil and water in this lab activity. Can be done in groups or individually. This resource is in PDF form; requires Adobe Reader.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Mn Step: Who Is on Top?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners investigate density in this activity when they try to find out if oil or water has a higher density.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Mn Step: Sink or Float: All Liquids Do Not Have the Same Density

For Teachers K - 1st
An experiment in density. After a review of floating and sinking of different materials, students test four bottles, all holding four ounces of water, to see if they will float or sink. They each contain a different density of sugar...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Talk About Dense

For Teachers 5th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text explaining the density of solids and liquids. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: States of Matter

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students act as chemical engineers and use LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT robotics to record temperatures and learn about the three states of matter. Properties of matter can be measured in various ways, including volume, mass, density and...
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...
Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Chemistry Simulation: Going Fishing

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students will be able to change the mass and volume of an item and observe if it floats, sinks, or remains at a certain depth in the water. Students will also be able to change the liquid in level 2.
Website
My Science Site

Life Systems: Cells, Tissues, Organs

For Students 9th - 10th
Extensive site for teachers provides some helpful resources that pertain to plant and animal cells. Includes a microscope diagram as well as plant, animal and pond labs. Also contains links to structures and mechanisms, matter and...