Sink or float experiment

Children test which items float or sink in a bowl of water.

Steps

1. Prepare a water tub and a basket with objects: egg, feather, stone, cork, metal spoon.
2. Children hypothesize what will happen and place each item in the water.
3. They categorize the objects onto two trays: 'floats' and 'sinks'.
4. Submerge an egg in fresh water versus heavily salted water to observe buoyancy.

Tip: Keep towels handy; water exploration games inevitably splash.

Materials needed

• Large plastic basin / tub (1 piece)