Curated OER
Water Pressure in the Ocean
Students compare the pressure of water at different depths and gain an understanding of how increased water might affect animals living in deeper waters. They participate in an experiment to show that depth, not volume, affects water...
Curated OER
Investigating Properties of Water: Temperature
Investigate how temperature affects the density of water and stratification that occurs in bodies of water when temperatures vary. Water of differing temperatures is given different colors to see the layers that form. The lesson is meant...
Curated OER
How Does Water Cool?
How fast does water cool? First fifth graders will draw a line on a graph that predicts how fast they think water can cool from boiling. Then they plot the actual data on the same graph to see if their estimate was correct.
Discovery Education
Motion in the Ocean
How do temperature changes affect ocean currents? Scholars explore convection currents by demonstrating the flow of water in a baking dish. They use ice, heat, and food coloring to see currents. Then, they draw conclusions about their...
Curated OER
Water
Students conduct a series of investigations on the unique properties of water. In this general science lesson, students explain what causes water's surface tension. They explain the different stages in the water cycle.
Curated OER
Student Exploration: Density Experiment: Slice and Dice
In this density instructional activity, students explore an internet program called Gizmo where they do an experiment with density. Students complete 18 questions.
Curated OER
The Weight of Water
Students examine how salt water is more dense than fresh water. They discuss how manatees need to float and sink, conduct a sink or float experiment, and conduct an experiment with eggs and salt and fresh water.
Curated OER
Properties of Water with a Splash of Color
Young scholars explore the properties of water. In this cross curriculum art and physical science instructional activity, students experiment with a variety of materials to demonstrate the cohesive forces and adhesion of water. Young...
Curated OER
Water Layering and Circulation
Students examine relationships and interactions between different types of water. They experiment with colored water of different temperature and salinity and discuss how the results relate to real ocean currents.
University of Chicago
Don't Be Too Flaky
Snow, ice, and water are all composed of H2O. Does that mean they all have the same volume? Discover the ways that the densities of these substances determine their volumes, and how they change based on their current states of matter....
Curated OER
How Dense is Salt Water?
Young schoolers explore the concept of linear regression. They determine the mass and density of salt water. Pupils add salt to water and record the density as salinity increases, and perform a linear regression on the data to model the...
Curated OER
Water Density Boundaries
Students create observable layers in water that represent a separation based upon density differences. They model density boundaries using differences in temperature and salinity. They, in groups, perform a meaningful experiment...
Curated OER
The Causes of Differences in Density
Students explore the causes of differences in density. Students choose objects, measure the mass and volume, and calculate the density of each. They perform additional density experiments to model atoms and their correspondence to...
Curated OER
What is Density?
Students explore physical science by conducting an in-class experiment. In this density activity, students define vocabulary terms dealing with physics and discuss their knowledge of density. Students conduct several "sink or float"...
Curated OER
The Sun as the Driving Force of the Water Cycle
Students study the water cycle and how the sun is an important factor. In this water cycle lesson students investigate how to desalinate water and explore the different densities of fresh versus saltwater.
Curated OER
What's The Matter: A Sinker or Floater?
Students conduct an experiment. For this water lesson, students watch the lesson "Float and Sink" on an interactive website. Students learn how to test items in water and then work in groups to test their items. Students discuss their...
Curated OER
Dunkin` for Density
In this density worksheet, students complete a science lab experiment to determine the density that an object will float or sink in water. Students fill in a chart with their data, answer 4 short answer questions and write 1 conclusion...
Illustrative Mathematics
Archimedes and the King's Crown
Learners will shout "Eureka!" in this quick but deep activity replicating the famous bathtub experiment of Archimedes. Given the scenario of a king with a suspected fake crown, young investigators develop formulas using density to...
Polar Trec
Sea Ice Impact
The arctic seas contain currents that are both warm (with high salinity) and cold (relatively fresh water) that circulate throughout the year. Through discussion, a lab, and a web quest, participants explore the impacts of melting and...
Florida International University
Simulating Microgravity with Buoyancy
How do astronauts know how to live and work in a weightless environment? It doesn't come naturally! Junior physicists conduct experiments to examine the link between buoyancy and microgravity. Each activity illustrates a different aspect...
Curated OER
Densities
Students explore the concept of density. For this density lesson plan, students determine the density of a crown and a sample of clay. They hypothesize about the densities of 4 liquids they are given including molasses, cooking oil, a...
Curated OER
Comparing Densities of Different Liquids
Students experiment with a variety of liquids to calculate density. In this integrated science and math lesson plan, students listen to a story in which the characters must prove and explain why 5 "mystery" liquids react in a certain...
Curated OER
Density and Convection Currents
Learners listen as the teacher explains convection currents in the ocean. They experiment with finding a smoking match in the classroom with their eyes closed. Students discuss what might effect their ability to pinpoint the smoke...
Curated OER
Density - An Introduction
Learners experiment with objects of different densities. In this density lesson, students examine same-sized objects with different weights, then look at a teacher explanation of density. Learners make wave bottles and a density jar to...