The National Center for Quality Afterschool

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Afterschool Lesson Plan Database

Lesson Plan

Physical Science: Sink or Float?
Subject: Science
Grade span: K to 2
Duration: 45-60 minutes
This lesson was excerpted from the Afterschool Training Toolkit under the promising practice: Investigating Science Through Inquiry

Description:

This lesson is one example of how you can implement the practice of Investigating Science Through Inquiry. In this activity, students use everyday objects to make and test predictions about what sinks and what floats, charting their results on a graphic organizer.

Learning Goals:

Materials:

Preparation:

  1. Collect or ask students to bring in a variety of objects to test.
  2. Make copies of the Graphic Organizer (PDF). If students use objects other than those pictured in the graphic organizer provided, make drawings or cut out illustrations to represent items to be tested,
  3. Collect books on sinking and floating.
  4. Collect pictures of large boats and other things that float, animals and people in water, sunken treasure, etc.
Safety Considerations Safety Considerations:
If a glass aquarium is used, care should be taken to ensure that there are no cracks or leaks.

What to Do:

Evaluate (Outcomes to look for):

Learn More:

Learn more about the 5 Es.
Online Training for Afterschool Staff
The Afterschool Training Toolkit is available online free of charge.

The following resources can be used with the online Afterschool Training Toolkit to give you the resources you need to build fun, innovative, and academically enriching afterschool activities.