Float and Sink

Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Subject Area

Science

Grade(s)

2

Overview

In this lesson, students will be able to plan and carry out an investigation to compare the property of sinking and floating between different substances. Students will develop an understanding that whether a substance sinks or floats is a property of the substance. Students will look at several objects made from wax, wood, metal, and rubber and predict and test whether they sink or float.

Science (2015) Grade(s): 2

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Conduct an investigation to describe and classify various substances according to physical properties (e.g., milk being a liquid, not clear in color, assuming shape of its container, mixing with water; mineral oil being a liquid, clear in color, taking shape of its container, floating in water; a brick being a solid, not clear in color, rough in texture, not taking the shape of its container, sinking in water).

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Vocabulary

  • Solid
  • Liquid
  • Physical Properties
  • Investigate
  • Classify
  • Opaque
  • Transparent
  • Translucent
  • Rough
  • Smooth
  • Float
  • Sink
  • Shape
  • Various
  • Substances
  • Conduct
  • Describe

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Different kinds of matter exists.
  • Properties of both solids (opaque, transparent, translucent, rough, smooth, float, sink, has its own shape) and liquids (color, assumes shape of container, opaque, transparent, translucent).
  • Many types of matter can be either solid or liquid, depending on temperature.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Plan and conduct an investigation to produce data that is used to describe and classify substances according to physical properties.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Observable patterns in the properties of materials provide evidence to classify the different kinds of materials.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Planning and Carrying out Investigations

Crosscutting Concepts

Patterns

CR Resource Type

Lesson/Unit Plan

Resource Provider

Other

License Type

Custom

Resource Provider other

American Chemical Society
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