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Science lesson plan · Kindergarten (Reception and Year 1 in England) · 30 minutes

Will it float or sink? Predict and test

Materials and their properties

CCSS NGSS.K-2-ETS1-1CCSS NGSS.SEP 3England: EYFS Understanding the World: The natural worldEngland: KS1 Y1 Everyday materials

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Will it float or sink? Predict and test.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Everyday materials

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: A tray of everyday objects, Sorting hoops, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Everyday materials). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. What is a towel usually made from? (metal / wood / fabric / plastic) → fabricPrompt: Is it hard or soft? Shiny? Can you see through it?
  2. Which object is usually made of fabric? (a seaside bucket / a pencil / a garden shed / a curtain) → a curtainPrompt: Picture each object. What does it feel like?
  3. A spoon can be made of metal, plastic or wood. What does this show? (Spoons are not objects. / All materials are the same. / The same object can be made from different materials. / Only metal is a material.) → The same object can be made from different materials.Prompt: Think about spoons you have seen.

Hook · 3 min

  • Pass round objects made of different materials and ask why each one was chosen.
  • Share the objective: Will it float or sink? Predict and test. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Will this float or sink in water: a wooden block?
  • Step 1: These things stay on top of the water.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: floats
  • Answer: floats
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Will this float or sink in water: an iron nail? (floats / sinks) → sinksPrompt: Is it heavy for its size, like metal or stone, or light for its size?
  2. Three of these float. Which one does NOT? (an ice cube / an iron nail / a ping-pong ball / a cork) → an iron nailPrompt: Think about what each thing is made of.

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. An empty plastic bottle with its lid on floats. What do you predict if you fill it with sand? (It will float exactly the same. / It will fly. / It will probably sink. / It will float higher.) → It will probably sink.Prompt: What does the sand do to how heavy the bottle is?
  2. Three of these sink. Which one does NOT? (a glass marble / a leaf / a pebble / a coin) → a leafPrompt: Think about what each thing is made of.

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Everyday materials.
  • Use concrete materials: a tray of everyday objects.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/kindergarten.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Will it float or sink? Predict and test

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    A ball of modelling clay sinks. Leo shapes the same clay into a boat. What happens?

    • A. It dissolves.
    • B. The boat shape can float.
    • C. It sinks faster.
    • D. It turns into wood.

  2. Question 2

    Will this float or sink in water: a key?

    • A. floats
    • B. sinks

  3. Question 3

    Three of these float. Which one does NOT?

    • A. an apple
    • B. a leaf
    • C. a cork
    • D. a metal spoon

  4. Question 4

    How can you find out if a toy floats?

    • A. Look at its colour.
    • B. Ask which toy is the favourite.
    • C. Predict, then put it in water and watch.
    • D. Smell it.

  5. Question 5

    Will this float or sink in water: an ice cube?

    • A. floats
    • B. sinks

  6. Question 6

    An empty plastic bottle with its lid on floats. What do you predict if you fill it with sand?

    • A. It will float higher.
    • B. It will float exactly the same.
    • C. It will probably sink.
    • D. It will fly.

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Answer key: Will it float or sink? Predict and test

  1. 1. B. The boat shape can float.

  2. 2. B. sinks

  3. 3. D. a metal spoon

  4. 4. C. Predict, then put it in water and watch.

  5. 5. A. floats

  6. 6. C. It will probably sink.