
Meadow Sink and Float Indicators: Receptive Language (Listening) L1.1(0), L1.1(1), L1.1(2), Expressive Language (Speaking) L2.1(0), L2.1(1), L2.1(2), L2.2(0), L2.2(1), L2.2(2), Observation and Inquiry SC1.1(0), SC1.1(1), SC1.1(2), SC1.2(0), SC1.2(1), SC1.2(2), Physical Science SC2.1(0), SC2.1(1), SC2.1(2), Curiosity, Initiative, and Risk-Taking AL1.1(0) (More...) You Will Need: large plastic tub of water basket foam lily pads toy frogs meadow animal and insect toys twigs rocks blades of grass Caution: Always directly supervise water play. Cover the water table when not in use. Play a game of sink and float. Fill a large plastic tub with water. In a basket nearby, set out foam lily pads, toy frogs, other meadow animals and insect toys, twigs, rocks, and blades of grass. Gather the children near the tub and basket. Explain that you are going to play a game of sink and float to discover which items float and which ones sink. Invite a child to drop an item from the basket into the water. What happens? Help the children notice whether the item sinks or floats. Repeat, having another child drop an item into the water. Continue in this way until at least every interested child has a turn. Older Toddlers: Before testing each item in the basket, look at each one and talk about its properties. Then, make a prediction together whether each item will sink or float. Finally, test each item together. Were the predictions for each item accurate or did a different result occur? Observe: Do the children show interest in the sink and float experiment? Are children curious about this activity to the point of asking questions and exploring the materials? Would children like to choose items independently to test if they sink or float?

Meadow Sink and Float

Indicators: Receptive Language (Listening) L1.1(0), L1.1(1), L1.1(2), Expressive Language (Speaking) L2.1(0), L2.1(1), L2.1(2), L2.2(0), L2.2(1), L2.2(2), Observation and Inquiry SC1.1(0), SC1.1(1), SC1.1(2), SC1.2(0), SC1.2(1), SC1.2(2), Physical Science SC2.1(0), SC2.1(1), SC2.1(2), Curiosity, Initiative, and Risk-Taking AL1.1(0) (More...)

You Will Need:

large plastic tub of water
basket
foam lily pads
toy frogs
meadow animal and insect toys
twigs
rocks
blades of grass

Caution: Always directly supervise water play. Cover the water table when not in use.

Play a game of sink and float.

Fill a large plastic tub with water.
In a basket nearby, set out foam lily pads, toy frogs, other meadow animals and insect toys, twigs, rocks, and blades of grass.
Gather the children near the tub and basket.
Explain that you are going to play a game of sink and float to discover which items float and which ones sink.
Invite a child to drop an item from the basket into the water. What happens? Help the children notice whether the item sinks or floats.
Repeat, having another child drop an item into the water. Continue in this way until at least every interested child has a turn.

Older Toddlers: Before testing each item in the basket, look at each one and talk about its properties. Then, make a prediction together whether each item will sink or float. Finally, test each item together. Were the predictions for each item accurate or did a different result occur?

Observe: Do the children show interest in the sink and float experiment? Are children curious about this activity to the point of asking questions and exploring the materials? Would children like to choose items independently to test if they sink or float?