Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Magical Diving Sub

For Teachers K - 5th
Students use their background knowledge of how scientists work to discuss and predict if a given object will sink or float. They record their predictions on a data sheet. Students test the objects and organize them into floating or...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Density

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders watch a demonstration and complete an experiment to determine how an objects' density allows it to float or sink. They work in small groups to assimilate the characteristics of items that float as opposed to simply...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heavy Ice: Day Five

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners explore physics by conducting a class experiment. In this density lesson plan, students examine a list of items and discuss whether they will sink or float and then determine their density. Learners examine the objects over five...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Day Six: Floater What Ifs

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Young scholars observe earth science by examining results from an experiment. In this buoyancy lesson, students practice floating different items in two different liquids and identify why certain objects will float and others sink. Young...
Organizer
Curated OER

Deducing Density

For Students 3rd - 4th
In this deducing density learning exercise, students follow the procedures to set up an experiment about objects floating in water and liquids of different densities, answer questions, collect data and complete charts.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Will the Pumpkin Sink or Float?

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Learners participate in a sink or float activity using pumpkins.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Density: Floating, Sinking, and Suspending

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students observe teacher demonstrations that illustrate density. For this density lesson, the teacher demonstrates how air bubbles in a carbonated drink can cause a raisin to float and how an egg sinks in fresh water, but floats in salt...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Density: Float or Sink

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover density.  In this density lesson, students discover the properties of objects that allow them to float or sink in water.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sink or Float?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students analyze the relationship between density, buoyancy, and salinity. In this chemical properties lesson, students read a background activity for the lesson and experiments to the topics. Students discuss the questions and complete...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Role of Density in Sinking or Floating: Relational Causality

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students consider density and how it affects sinking and floating. Students make predictions, test liquids, and observe why some liquids sink and others float. They perform experiments to determine relational causality and how liquids...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Could the Hindenburg Float?

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders experiment with floating and sinking objects and heavy and light liquids, using correct terms, like density, to explain what happens.  In this Hindenburg lesson, 10th graders watch a demonstration called the invisible...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Properties of Matter: "Sink or Swim"

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders recognize that different materials have different properties which can be observed such as texture and bouyancy, and compare and contrast, through observation, ability of some objects to float because of action of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Does the USS Alabama Float?

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students investigate buoyancy. In this buoyancy lesson, students apply the Archimedes Principle of Buoyancy to the experiment conducted in class to determine how battleships float.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

To Float or Not to Float - A Lesson on Density

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students observe and experiment with the concept of density. This is done using a simple experiment that helps them to apply scientific principles of observation and proving a hypothesis.
Lesson Plan
American Chemical Society

Changing the Density of an Object - Adding Material

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
In this sixth of seven activities revolving around the concept of density, physical science fans figure out if anything can be done to change the density of an object. Demonstrate by placing a can of regular and a can of diet soda into a...
Lesson Plan
American Chemical Society

Changing the Density of an Object - Changing Shape

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Continuing with the concept of volume and its effect on density, learners now work with a piece of clay to see if they can get it to float in water. This is a memorable end to a seven-part investigation of density. Make sure to check out...
Lesson Plan
American Chemical Society

Comparing the Density of an Object to the Density of Water

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Investigators construct a makeshift balance and compare equal volumes of wax and water. They do the same for clay and water. Then they discover whether the wax and clay will float or sink in water. Ultimately this is a comparison of...
Lesson Plan
Center for Precollegiate Education and Training

Buoyancy Boats

For Teachers 9th - 12th
What did the sea say to the boat? Nothing, it just waved. An inquiry-based lesson starts with a simple concept on the Archimedes Principle and challenges pupils to make something out of clay that floats. Then, they design...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Regular Coke vs. Diet Coke: Which is Denser?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners define the terms "mass," "volume," and "density." The relationship between these three terms is established. They observe the differences between Regular and Diet Coke. They develop an hypotheses about why a can of Regular Coke...
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Buoyancy

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
Swimmers know to float by turning their bodies horizontally rather than vertically, but why does that make a difference? In an interesting instructional activity, scholars explore buoyancy and the properties of air and water. They test...
Lesson Plan
American Chemical Society

Changing the Density of a Liquid - Adding Salt

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Fourth in a set of several little lessons on density, this one compares the density of fresh and salt water. First by demonstration, and then by a hands-on activity, learners find that adding salt increases the density, as is evidenced...
Lesson Plan
Centers for Ocean Sciences

Ocean and Great Lakes Literacy: Principle 1

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Is your current lesson plan for salt and freshwater literacy leaving you high and dry? If so, dive into part one of a seven-part series that explores the physical features of Earth's salt and freshwater sources. Junior hydrologists...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Density Studies of the Earth

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Density comes to life as investigators place soda cans into containers of various liquids to find if they sink or float. They layer different density liquids, compare densities of different gases, and more. A total of six different...
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Buoyancy Bulls-Eye

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Why does a seastar sink, but a jellyfish float? Through a fun investigation, learners examine the concept of buoyancy using simple household items. The challenge: create neutral buoyancy for an action figure in water. With ample...

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