Sink or Float?

Sink: To go down below the surface of water.

Float: To stay on top of water without sinking.

Density: How tightly packed the "stuff" inside an object is, which helps us predict if it will sink or float.

Experiment: a test you do to learn something or find out what will happen.

Prediction/Predict: a smart guess about what you think will happen.

Addition: putting numbers together to find the total.

Subtraction: is taking away from a group to find how many are left.

Compact: pressed together tightly in a small space.

Air: something all around us that we cannot see, but we can feel and breathe.

        Glossary

Good morning, class!

    On a bright, sunny morning, Briana, Jennifer, and Courtney entered their kindergarten classroom and were surprised to see a fishbowl full of water on one of the desks.

The students began to put their book bags away and take their seats. 

 "I know you must be wondering why there is a fishbowl on the desk!" said Ms. Good.

"Today, we are going to learn about density. Let's do a sink or float experiment!"

The students gathered around excitedly.  

They began to notice the different objects next to the bowl.

What shall we

 test first?

"Today we are going to experiment with 6 objects. A pencil, coin, apple, rubber duck, rock, and aluminum foil. Think about what objects you think will float and which objects will sink," explained Ms. Good.

"Can we try the apple first? I think it will float!", Jennifer shouted.

It floated!

It looks like the apple does float. Good job! Let's mark that on our anchor chart.

Now let's try the rock! I think it will sink!

Mrs. Good pulled out her chart paper as the students placed different objects into the water.

Some things floated, and others did not. 

Mrs. Good explained the difference between sink and float and how density causes the objects to rise or fall when placed in the water.

Yes! The rock did sink.

Briana, what are you going to choose?

I want to try the 

aluminum foil. I think it

 will float.

"The rock sank, I was right!" Said Courtney. 

Mrs. Good was so proud of her students and how well they were doing. 

Now it was Briana's turn to choose and she was excited to see if the aluminum foil would float, just like she predicted.

Your prediction was correct.

Yay! It floats!

"Good job, Briana!" Said Mrs. Good.

Mrs. Good then asked the class an important question, "Okay, class, if I roll the aluminum foil into a ball, will it sink or float?"

Jennifer, Briana, and Courtney began to wonder what might happen.

hmm..

sink

sink

I still think 

it will float

"Good job, class!" Said Mrs. Good.

"If you said it would sink, you are correct! The aluminum ball has less air and is more compact. This means it is more dense than a flat piece of aluminum foil." Mrs. Good exclaimed. 

"Now we will test the coin, the rubber duck, and the pencil."

Float