Floating vs. Sinking Tub Science
An exploratory bath time or water table activity where children test various household objects to see if they float or sink, introducing early concepts of density and buoyancy.
- Takes
- 20 min
- Your setup
- 5 min prep
- Ages
- Ages 3–4
- Mess
- Messy
- Cost
- $
- Where
- Either
How to do it
- 1Gather the objects to be tested.
- 2Before placing an item in the water, ask the child: 'Do you think this will float (stay on top) or sink (go to the bottom)?' (Prediction step).
- 3Allow the child to place the object in the water and observe the result.
- 4Discuss why heavier things might float (like a boat) and lighter things might sink (like a stone).
- 5Use descriptive language (heavy, light, submerged, surface).
What they're practising
- Scientific Inquiry
- Hypothesis Formation
- Buoyancy Concepts
- Observation Skills