Steal cubes sink, but steal ships float. Lesson explores the density of solids as well as the density of water in determining what will sink and what will float. A hands-on group activity helps pupils see that weight and volume are two very different things. 

Concepts

density, sinking and floating, weight

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• After the lesson, challenge learners to use the clay that sinks and shape in a way that makes it float, then have them explain why the change worked

Classroom Considerations

• Requires tea light candles that have wax that completely fills the metal container
• Utilizes a projector to show animations of what is happening at the molecular level
• Lesson is the fourth in a series of six

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Pros

• Uses a 5E format
• Provides an additional extension idea after the typical one included in the lesson
• Offers discussion questions and ideal answers to help guide scholars in the right direction

Cons

• None

Common Core

RST.6-8.3 RST.6-8.4 RST.6-8.7 WHST.6-8.1.a WHST.6-8.1.b WHST.6-8.1.c WHST.6-8.1.d WHST.6-8.1.e