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?
Note: The clay and foil
balls sink because they are squeezed into small shapes and only a
small amount of water is trying to hold up the weight. When
the clay or foil is spread out, it floats because the weight is
supported by a lot more water.
