Following on from our previous experiment about Germination, we decided to investigate whether things would float or sink. My little boy just going into Year 1 is very bright and inquisitive and just kept asking about things. I thought it would be a great way to see how much they learned and remembered from the last experiment, but also see how much they could apply to the new one.
First of all my five year old wrote out a list of materials, and then considered whether they would sink or float. From this list I collected as many of them as I could/thought appropriate and added a few of my own. I filled up a (sorry dirty) pink bucket with cold water and printed out some “investigation sheets”.
The first thing the sheet asked was: “What is the problem?” – we decided it was that we wanted to determine which products would sink and which would float: The teen told us that it was caused by the different materials having a different density. The experiment could have been made very complicated but I felt it more important that the 5 year old could understand the principles, and get to grips with some of the terminology used in a Science experiment, whilst the 10 year old getting to know which variables were which.
Simply for the independent variables (something that is changed in the experiment) we had the different objects we were using. You could have used the density, the material, the size etc. With the dependent variables (being whether they would sink or float. We discussed what the constant variables were and decided on the type of liquid drop in (water), the level and temperature of that liquid; how level the container was, that the height the objects are dropped from, and with how much force, and finally how long we wait to see the result. For the controlled variable we decided that we would use 2 pegs of different materials – so as to determine whether it was shape or material that had an effect.
For a more complicated hypothesis you could talk about different types of materials, or items with similar properties and what you would expect to happen. We simply hypothesised as to whether an item would sink or float.
My 5 year olds hypothesis:
Things that will float:
- Paper
- Lolly Stick
- Duplo
- Plastic lid
- Foil dish
- Sponge
- Fabric material
- Bubble wrap
- Weetabix
- Cardboard
- Lego
- Plastic peg
- Wooden peg
- Things that will sink:
- Tissue paper
- Glass bottle
- Monkey nut
- Stone
- Rock
What is the Procedure?
If I were just working with my older son (aged 10) I would work more on getting him to think about drawing the apparatus and writing the method; however, I had a 4 and 5 year old eager to drop things into a big pink bucket of water. We agreed that we would use the tuff spot to make the ground level, we would gently place the items in, and we would wait for 1 minute before determining the result – measured by if the item had sank to the bottom, or floating on the top. We did not discuss until it happened but, items floating at the top but underneath the water were deemed as floating.
Our conclusions were simply which items floated and which sunk, however, we thought about other things we could think about for further investigations. We talked about different rock types, and this lead us to think about how quickly the items that sunk reached the bottom: Indeed the small stone went much quicker than the bigger rock. We talked about the possibility that things might be different if we used a different liquid, or if it were fizzy (a possible experiment with our new SodaStream), or if the water was hotter (I very eager 5 year old wanted to boil the kettle there and then!). During the experiment we thought about it in terms of material to build a boat. My 5 year old decided to see If the foil would still float with the weight of a rock on it (like a boat with a person inside).
Our findings were that the stone, rock, card and Weetabix did sink (note I put this in last and quickly got it out, but it didn’t go as mushy as I expected). When my 5 year old saw that the bottle floated he said that we were meant to take the lid off (because that wasn’t glass) – and indeed the bottle filled with water and sank – making his prediction right! The other items we had tested that floated were a plastic tray lid, a monkey nut, bubble wrap, a stick, a foil dish (flattened), tissue paper (which did surprise me), both plastic and wooden pegs, sponge, Lego, a lolly stick, and fabric material.
I am really pleased with how much my children remembered, could identify what the variables were, and generally just think about things. They now have all manner of ideas about how to build a little boat.
Thanks so much for hosting! Even on a holiday weekend!
I can remember doing this experiment with a bunch of kids while I was studying psychology. It sounds like your little ones did really well, 🙂 x
I think a lot of it comes from my love of the experimental method section of my psych degree actually.
I love these kind of experiments. We usually end up doing them either in the bath or even better in the outdoor swimming pool over summer-it can get very splashy!
This looks like so much fun. We sort of do this but I like the recording part and that they can see their results at the end.
looks like you had so much fun
Pinned from the Pin It Party onto my sink and float board – love how you’re building up scientific method, Alice x
What a great idea 🙂 thanks for linking up with #MagicMoments
fab idea, may give it a go with my brood
What a great idea and a simple way for kids to learn about science and how to carry out experiments methodically while also having fun! Good way to keep them out of mischief in the holidays 🙂
This is such a good idea, its something we did in school but I never thought about doing it with pops!!! I joined in, sorry it was not in-keeping with the theme!! x
Great simple experiment. I love this kind of play/learning. Sounds like they did well x
Ooh I like -Science learning and fun. Thanks for sharing on the Monday Pin it party
Wow – I now see that parenting of children rather than toddlers is pretty full on! lol 😉 I pretty muhc just hand mine a crayon and a piece of toilet roll and sit back… #bugger lol! xx
What a fabulous experiment, such a good idea too. Just realised I forgot to link up 🙂
They seem so little to be learning such cool stuff – what a great mum you are!
AWw thank you x
I would never think of doing something like this with my 2, although my 12 year old wouldnt be bothered – my little girl might like to do something like this, I will have to keep it in mind for next holidays!
You could try it with different Halloween toys :O)
As a primary teacher myself – I know and believe young children learn so much through play and exploration!
We love doing things like this – fun and learning at the same time x
What a great idea – I must admit I am rubbish at doing anything that involves an element of learning in, something I need to rectify !
I disagree – and am very envious of your outdoor art activities
ooooh what fun. We love sinking and floating. I love that your 5 year old took the lid off the bottle, what a clever clogs. x
It’s great isn’t it – and I am very proud of him – following in his brother’s footsteps me thinks
Brilliant experiment and a great introduction to science x
wow cool thanks for this xxx
Good luck
def something i need to get myself organised!
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What a simple and brilliant idea, I have my last day at home with the girls tomorrow before they go back to school and I’m going to do a bit of science with them. Thanks for the inspiration
Must be great to have a bigger gap, anything I attempt with my two ends in chaos. But I found this really inspiring, I really must do more stuff with them!
Oh thank you I am glad to hear that it inspired you- they love doing practical stuff. I am sure you do plenty with them though.
Greta stuff, I read posts like this and feel very inadequate I never do science with the kids! Mich x
Aww thank you – bet you do other stuff that makes me eel inadequate mind.
Love, love, love science experiments at home! You have so much more time and attention to give then a rushed lesson at school, can’t wait until Ethan’s old enough to do this kind of thing 🙂
I did feel unsure whether I was teaching them the right things mind lol.
This is my 4-year-old’s favorite science experiment! And the cool thing about it is that there are always different things to test out. 🙂
what a brilliant idea, looks like they had lots of fun xx
I like that wheetabix was included, that made me smile.
Great experiments …. will be trying with the kids over the weekend!
my 6 year old son would love this
shared sleep routines
I really need to get my experiment book out for some fun with the mini Mes! x
I LOVE experiments and these look great – I must try them with Grace 🙂 Thanks for hosting x
Seems like you all had good fun, whilst the little ones experimented and learnt. Kids do love to play with water, good to get their minds working, and curiosity satisfied, safely.
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Fantastic! We had a fun time doing this experiment when Madam bought it back for homework. Love the picture of the boys peering into the bucket for results! xx
I can’t wait till Jake is old enough to do things like this, my inner geek is excited at the thought.
What a great idea!
This looks like so much fun, what a great idea too
Sounds like a great idea! Subscribed by email 🙂
You look like you all had lots of fun doing it
looks so fun
What a great activity looks great fun
Looks like they had lots of fun experimenting and learning
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Such a simple but very very effective game. Am definitely going to use this!
That looks like great fun.
what a great idea. We will definitely be trying this!
This sounds like a really fun activity to do with your children! Thank you for posting 🙂
You have just inspired me to do this with my 4 yr old son in reception and 3 yr old girl who has just started nursery – I have the exact sae pink bucket, also very dirty lol intended for a washing basket which has actually become a thing for the kids to pull each other around in! lol. My son would absolutely love this experiment and they are both very inquisitive! I remember doing a science project with my daughter when she was 7, she was off school for a week with a virus and so I wanted to do something which was still educational and do a project to take back to school with her. She particularly loved a volcano with vinegar and bicarb!
My girls love water experiments like this – we use an old baby bath. 🙂
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I remember doing things like this with my dad, lots of fun!
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My girls love water experiments like this – we use an old baby bath