Sink or Float

We all chose one item in our classroom to place inside the water.
Prior to our activity we hypothesized whether it would sink or float.
We were not sure why.

The children were amazed by what sank and what floated.
They felt special using the item they chose!

The children take turns.

Morah Mimi: Why do you think the markers and frogs are floating
but the animals, plate and sea shell sank to the bottom?
Hannah: Because they were heavy.
Morah Mimi: What happens to the heavy items?
Hannah: They sink.
Aiden had placed a vase in the water that was floating.
Morah Mimi asked Jordan and Hannah to add water to the vase
and as the vase filled with water it began to sink.
This really helped them internalize the concept.

We pass around a glass plate and plastic frog.  The children
use their knowledge to guess which will float or sink. 
After we placed them in the water.

The next day, as a follow up, I asked the children to find an object that will float and then an object that will sink.
As the children brought their objects, the other children made sure it was the right one.

Following our sinking and floating activities we discussed
what can sink and flow in bodies of water.
Sammy: People float in the water.
When Sammy suggested people, we used the opportunity to bring up
water and safety (which we'll bring up again spring time.)
We discussed what happens if we can't swim, we can sink (drown) and that is
very dangerous.  We can only go next to a (children gave the following ideas)
pool, bathtub, beach, ocean with an adult.
The children gave more examples of things that float in the water.
Jordan: Fish float in the water.
Amanda: Crabs float in the water.
Aiden: Frogs float in the water.
Hannah: Dolphins!
We also discussed vehicles that can float in water.
The children all shouted boats.
Morah Mimi: Cars?
Children: Laugh!! No!
Morah Mimi: Air Planes?
Children: Laugh!! No!
Morah Mimi: Actually some air planes can float in the water.
They are called sea planes.
Would you like to see one?
The children really wanted to see it.
We walked to the office to watch a sea plane land in the water.
Morah Mimi pointed out the pontoons they use to float in the water.
The children were amazed.