Float or Sink?

WALT: We Are Learning To observe materials and predict whether they will float or sink.

Adult: Read the words aloud. Talk about each picture together. Children may explain their answers orally.

1. Cut out the picture cards. Paste each one under FLOAT or SINK.

FLOAT

SINK

Cut-out picture cards

LEAF

ROCK

RUBBER DUCK

SPOON

PAPER BOAT

KEY

APPLE

TOY BLOCK

2. Before testing, choose one object. Make a prediction: Will it float or sink?

I think __________________________ will float / sink.

Success criteria

I can make a prediction.

I can sort floating and sinking things.

I can tell what I noticed.

Our Tinfoil Boat

Think about making tinfoil boats with bears. Draw what happened.

3. Draw one bear in the boat.

4. Draw lots of bears in the boat.

5. Draw what happened when the boat sank.

6. Finish the sentence. You may tell your answer to an adult.

I noticed ________________________________________________.

Optional challenge

Can you draw a boat that might hold more bears?

Dyslexia-friendly choice: Listen to the instructions, point to the words, draw your ideas, or explain your answers orally.

Extra support: Use real objects, act out float and sink, and offer two choices at a time.

Extension: Test another object and explain why you think it floats or sinks.

Adult Answer Guide

Suggested sorting: Leaf – float; rock – sink; rubber duck – float; spoon – sink; paper boat – float; key – sink; apple – usually float; toy block – usually float.

Results may vary. A paper boat can sink when it becomes wet or holds too much weight. Some toy blocks may sink if they are made from a heavy material.

Ask: What do you notice? What is the material like? What happened when more bears were added?

Accept drawings and oral explanations. Encourage children to use the words float, sink, light, heavy, and predict.

NZ Te Mātaiaho Science: Observing and describing properties of materials and making simple predictions.

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