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Sink or Float Vegetables

Lesson Plan:

​Activity:

Sink or Float Vegetables

Lesson plan developed by Ms. Erika Geelhoed, BA Ed

Age Group:

School-Age

Objectives:  

Children will:

• practice making predictions. 
• practice recording observations.
• analyze inferences based on observations during the activity and afterwards in discussion.

Washington Common Core Standard

EALR 2

Washington State k-12 Science Standard:
EALR 2: Inquiry
Big Idea: Inquiry (INQ)
Core Content: Conducting Investigations

• 2-3 INQC Infer

o   Inferences are based on observations.

Sink or Float Vegetables

Compass Rose

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Materials: 

• variety of vegetables (some with cavities and some without)
• large bin full of water
• Sink or Float Observation sheet
• pencil
• knife

Procedure: 

• Before experimenting, have children complete the prediction portion of the worksheet.
  
• Be sure to tell them that it does not matter if they get this portion correct or not.
  
• Ask children why they think certain vegetables will float and others will sink. 
  
• Preform the experiment with the children by putting different vegetables in the water one at a time and recording if they float or not.
  
• When finished, have a discussion and talk about the results.
  
• Cut the vegetables in half and have children look at the inside of the veggies.
  
• Ask them to explain the differences. 
  
• Guide the children by asking appropriate questions to see that the vegetables that float are hollow and the ones that sink are not (definitions of these new vocabulary words should be given). 

Assessment: 

• Record the children's comments during the activity and post-experiment discussion. Were they able to explain why some vegetables floated and others sank? Review their worksheets and determine if they were able to complete the results section accurately. 

Online Early Childhood Education

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What Is STEM All About?

STEM is an acronym. It was used originally by the US government to describe fields of study that helped immigrants get work visas: science, technology, engineering, and math. Today, educators are linking these areas together in what is called STEM curriculum. When we break down the acronym into its parts, we see that early childhood programs practice STEM activities every day.

What Is STEM All About?

Science activities include exploring water and sand, comparing and contrasting natural materials like rocks and soil, rolling balls across the room, and looking through a magnifying glass to count how many legs are on the bug that was caught during outdoor play. Technology activities include computers, but also identifying simple machines like gears and wheels and pulleys. 

Engineering happens in the block area. There children are planning and designing structures every day with little teacher direction. Math activities include counting and matching shapes and making patterns. Measuring is easy too, especially with unit blocks where two of one size equal one of the next size up.