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Will It Float?

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  • DOMAIN(S)
    Cognitive Development and General Knowledge (CD)
  • INDICATOR(S)
    CD-CP1.4c, CD-CP1.4c
  • AGE GROUP(S)
    48-60 months

After the children have had some experience with sink and float activities, set up the following experiment. Fill three clear containers about 1/2 full – one with water, one with vegetable oil and one with corn syrup. Plastic test tubes are ideal for this purpose. Provide a variety of items to test such as paper clips, small rocks, pieces of craft foam and pennies. The children drop the same item in each of the three test tubes and describe what happens. Why does one item sink in the water but float on the corn syrup? Do any items sink in all three? This can be done in small group.  

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