Lesson Plan:
Matter: Sink or Float
Learning Objectives
Students will learn the relative densities of different objects.
Introduction
(10 minutes)
- Ask the students what items they think will sink or float.
- Don't make it specific to the items that you are going to use. Let the students give you a list of random items they think will sink or float.
Explicit Instruction/Teacher Modeling
(15 minutes)- Take out the chart with each object listed.
- Have the students reflect on whether they think each object with sink or float.
- Take votes to see who thinks the item will sink and who thinks the item will float.
- Post the chart to use later for closing the lesson.
Guided Practice/Interactive Modeling
(10 minutes)- Pick two of the objects on the Sink or Float worksheet and test out the predictions with the students.
- Organize students into small teams.
Independent Working Time
(10 minutes)- Have students work with their team to finish the rest of the sink or float activity and determine whether their predictions were correct.
Differentiation
- Enrichment: Have advanced students journal about other objects that might be on the border for the sink or float discussion.
- Support: Give struggling students one-on-one assistance over the course of the lesson.
Assessment
(15 minutes)- Have you students write down about what they predicted and what the outcome was.
Review and Closing
(5 minutes)- Review the predictions. Make changes to the chart if needed.
