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Float and sink play is science at its best. By simply playing with different objects in water children are experimenting and observing, testing their curiosity and challenging predictions – all activities that ignite the scientific mind.

The introduction of a prediction/result chart is an amazing way to more formally recreate the scientific process. This may invite your child to use this approach and apply these methods of experimentation in other areas of their lives.

Experiment Time

share it:

children playing in a tub of water with funnel and cup
toddler with a sponge

Ready

  • Large tub, pot, sink, or bathtub
  • Water
  • Prediction & Result Sheet (Optional)
  • A writing utensil (e.g. pencil or crayon)
  • A set of small, gathered items from around the house that you are interested in testing. Some examples include: an eraser, a pencil, a cork, a button, a pebble, a rubber band, a lego, a plastic cup, a sponge, etc.
Float and Sink chart
question mark

Set

  • Fill out your Prediction & Result Sheet by making predictions about which items will float and which ones will sink. (Optional)
  • Fill your large tub, pot, sink, or bathtub with water.

Child hands in tub of water with recycled cups and plastic containers
Children playing with items ina. bin of water

Play

  • Play and experiment freely with your objects in the water.
  • Test your hypotheses by placing each of your gathered items into the water one by one to see if it sinks or floats. 
  • Record your results alongside your hypotheses! (Optional)
  • You can support this play by asking open-ended questions or making open-ended statements that leave room for your child to reflect:
    • What do you think will happen when we put this cork in the water?
    • I wonder why some of these are under the water and some are on top?

Play your way! What else can you do with these open-ended materials?

Why Play This Way?

Float and sink play is science at its best. By simply playing with different objects in water children are experimenting and observing, testing their curiosity and challenging predictions – all activities that ignite the scientific mind.

The introduction of a prediction/result chart is an amazing way to more formally recreate the scientific process. This may invite your child to use this approach and apply these methods of experimentation in other areas of their lives. 

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keep playing

more fun activities

Whoever said work isn’t fun?! These activities, inspired by Joan Heilbroner’s marvelous book “Robert the Rose Horse”, reinforce the notion that “Play is the work of childhood!” Explore countless opportunities to notice the important jobs and workers around you. Then, discover the ways that even the youngest among us can be workers too!

Get to Work!

Splish, Splash I’m not takin’ a bath…I’m just playing with water! These activities are designed to delight your little one with all the sensory fun of water while also delivering the soothing social and emotional benefits inherent in this type of play. Discover ways to play with water in all kinds of places and with unexpected materials.

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Make math time happy with these fun counting activities. #1: Create your own abacus. #2: Count and play all day! These activity ideas provide a playful introduction to counting and the many ways that we encounter and use math in everyday life.

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Roll on into fruit play! Have a blast experiencing fruit in new and hilarious ways that will get you moving and laughing. Get your muscles ready, but be prepared! These activities might make you hungry and ready to quickly transition from playing to eating!

Let the Fruit Times Roll

This game brings all the creative fun of printmaking to the sensory goodness of dough play and then adds a clever twist! You make the prints, and your friend guesses what you used to make them. But watch out…it’s simple to make a mark, but easy to be fooled when you are the guesser. When you’re done with the game, keep playing with The Dough Project’s super, all natural, dough.

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