Kindergarten scientists built upon previous investigations with density to hypothesize which objects would sink and which would float. Loved listening to the scientific chatter as lab partners sorted the objects and made hypotheses before placing those objects in the water. Some of our findings surprised us! Click here to find out more. This is a fun investigation to do in the bathtub or sink.

Then I asked what would happen if I placed an object that sank on top of one that floated? Hmmm…. I also demonstrated that the plastic knife could float if you placed it carefully in the water lengthwise. Surface tension holds it up. So, maybe the shape of an object also impacts whether it will sink or float. We are beginning to explore buoyancy.

Will rocks float? We discovered that pumice, a volcanic rock, floats. Love turning their thinking upside down!