Float or Sink?

Kindergarten–Grade 1

Learning to make and test predictions is a good first step toward making and testing hypotheses.

What You Need

• 1 block of solid wood
• 1 plastic bottle cap
• 2 pieces of heavy-duty aluminum foil
• 1 piece of modeling clay
• Sink filled with water

What to Do

• Tell your child to hold the wood block in one hand and the plastic cap in the other hand. Ask him to answer the following questions:

  • Which one feels heavier?
  • Do you think the wooden block will float or sink?
  • Will the plastic cap float or sink?

• Have your child test his predictions by carefully placing the block of wood and the cap on the water. What happens? Next, have him put both under the water. What happens now?

• Give him a piece of aluminum foil and tell him to squeeze it tightly into solid ball then drop it in the water. Does it float or sink? Give him another piece of foil. Help him to shape it into a little boat, then have him carefully place it on top of the water. Does the foil float now?

• Help him to try the same experiment with the clay. Have him make ball and drop it in the water. What happens? Then have him shape the clay into a boat and put it on the water. Does it float now?

By Barbara J. Feldman

Barbara J. Feldman is a syndicated columnist and the publisher of Surf Net Parents, Surfnetkids.com and 51+ other family-friendly sites. She has been creating websites since 1996, and loves teaching others how to solve WordPress problems.