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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 coin usually made from? (fabric / metal / glass / plastic) → metalPrompt: Is it hard or soft? Shiny? Can you see through it?
  2. Which object is usually made of metal? (a coin / a garden shed / a pencil / a light bulb) → a coinPrompt: Picture each object. What does it feel like?
  3. A spoon can be made of metal, plastic or wood. What does this show? (The same object can be made from different materials. / All materials are the same. / Only metal is a material. / Spoons are not objects.) → 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? (a key / a ping-pong ball / a plastic duck / a cork) → a keyPrompt: 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. Zoe thinks a big wooden log will sink because it is big. What will really happen? (It sinks because it is big. / It floats, because wood floats whatever its size. / It turns to mud. / It floats only at night.) → It floats, because wood floats whatever its size.Prompt: Does a small piece of wood float?
  2. Three of these float. Which one does NOT? (a cork / a ping-pong ball / an iron nail / a wooden block) → an iron nailPrompt: 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

    Zoe thinks a big wooden log will sink because it is big. What will really happen?

    • A. It turns to mud.
    • B. It floats, because wood floats whatever its size.
    • C. It sinks because it is big.
    • D. It floats only at night.

  2. Question 2

    Three of these float. Which one does NOT?

    • A. a glass marble
    • B. a wooden block
    • C. an ice cube
    • D. an apple

  3. Question 3

    Will this float or sink in water: an apple?

    • A. floats
    • B. sinks

  4. Question 4

    How can you find out if a toy floats?

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

  5. Question 5

    Will this float or sink in water: a wooden block?

    • A. floats
    • B. sinks

  6. Question 6

    Three of these sink. Which one does NOT?

    • A. a metal spoon
    • B. a coin
    • C. an ice cube
    • D. a glass marble

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

  1. 1. B. It floats, because wood floats whatever its size.

  2. 2. A. a glass marble

  3. 3. A. floats

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

  5. 5. A. floats

  6. 6. C. an ice cube