Kids’ Science: Float Stuff on Water

Here's a little household science for kids.  It's very simple and lots of fun: let your child know that you are going to do a science experiment together.  Fill the kitchen or bathroom sink with water.  Find things from around the house (buttons, bottle caps, etc.) and see if they float.  Ask your child before she puts something in the water if she thinks it’s going to float. 

Advanced: when you’re finished, put the items on a towel and bring them to the kitchen table.  Examine the items while you log the results on a piece of paper.  Keep it simple.  Just make two columns—‘Floats’ and ‘Sinks.’  Put the chart in a folder. Later, when mom or dad comes home, or a neighbor comes over, get the folder out for your child’s reference.  Have your child quiz the person about whether they think each item on the list would sink or float.  Be prepared, your child will want to get the chart out every time someone new comes over.  Don’t discourage her from asking the same person the same questions as yesterday or last week.  She’s reinforcing her command of a variety of skills by repeating the process.  Use repetition as a prompt to advance the experiment.  Conduct the experiment over with new items.  Make a new chart.  Suggest that your child log a person’s correct answers on the back of the chart:  Dad: 7/10; Aunt Susan: 8/10; Michael 10/10, etc.  This adds a mathematical component to the activity and furthers your child's grasp of collecting and evaluating data.  The important thing is that your child is having fun while navigating scientific procedures.