Floating & Sinking Targeted Grade Level -- 5 Developed by National Science Resource Center Distributed by Carolina Biological Supply Company

Floating & Sinking Module Overview

In this unit, students investigate the phenomenon of buoyancy. They begin by making a spring scale with which they weigh various objects. Students make clay boats, test the boats' buoyancy, and discover that altering the shape of the boats affects buoyancy. Students are then challenged to design a boat that has a certain loading capacity. These experiments convince them of several surprising phenomena; for example, some "floaters" are heavier than some "sinkers," and large objects are not always heavier than smaller objects. Students then turn their attention to differences between objects placed in fresh water and in salt water. They construct a hydrometer that compares the levels at which objects float in both types of water.

Descriptions of the Science and Technology for Children ^tm (STC) units © 1997 National Academy of Sciences. Reproduced with permission from the National Science Resources Center (NSRC), Washington, DC. For more information about the STC ^tm program and other NSRC programs and activities visit the NSRC web site. For information on ordering the STC ^tm curriculum visit the Carolina Biological Supply Company web site.

These module web pages were initially created by Ingrid Rebman of Julian Harris, Decatur City Schools, and Pat O'Shields of Chestnut Grove, Decatur City Schools. Please address comments or questions to hasp@dcs.edu

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