Sink or Float?

Preschool science activities can include many different scientific activities without the scientific explanation. Can I really explain why things sink or float? Actually, I taught middle school science, so I hope I can. But most parents cannot explain it. And that is okay. Your child needs to experience science activities without the parental worry about what the true reasons are that explain the fact.

An example to use is sinking and floating. This is a simple exercise that can bring hours of delight to a preschooler. Get a tub full of water- the real tub or a plastic tub. Brainstorm (talk about) things that might sink in the tub or float in the tub. Then go find those things or some new ones. Let your child choose what you are going to use, as long as it won't ruin in the water (let's not let them try this with a book, unless it is a bath book). Continue on testing objects until they are satisfied. Then ask them WHY? Why do they think some things floated and some things sunk. You don't have to tell them why, just let them think about it! Ask them what was the SAME about the things that floated and the things that sunk. And that is it- activity over... until they want to try it again!

And in case you just want to know, here is the explanation of displacement.