There are so many great density lessons to choose from, we couldn’t decide! So we’re offering two lessons here—both of them easy to implement in your classroom and sure to spark a discussion on why things sink (or float). Density, here we come!
Click on the image below for a full-size, printable PDF. Enjoy!
Leave a Comment » | 
Chemistry, College level, density, Elementary level, High School level, Middle School level | Tagged: density, discrepant event, DIY, Educational Innovations, hands-on activity, homeschool, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, science, variables | 
Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
by: Linda Dunnavant
Do you have to teach density as part of your curriculum? If so, look no further than this “floating” golf ball lab! Your students will be engaged and hopefully even amazed at how density affects the world around them.
2 Comments | Chemistry, College level, density, Elementary level, experiments, High School level, Middle School level | Tagged: density, discrepant event, DIY, Educational Innovations, fun experiments, hands-on activity, homeschool, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, science, variables | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
by: Tami O’Connor
So, do you ever bring discrepant events into your classroom to capture your students’ attention? If so, the Poly Density Bottle should be on your list of must-haves! As you can see, this is a one-liter bottle filled with clear liquid. Floating at mid-bottle are two bands of beads, with blue on top of the white.
On its own, this is intriguing to many students. The head scratching begins, however, once the bottle is given a good shake. As soon as everything starts to settle, students will observe that the white beads now float at the top of the liquid while the blue beads sink to the bottom. The liquid, once clear, now appears to be slightly cloudy.
But wait, there’s more… After about 30 seconds something interesting begins to happen. The white beads gradually sink down, the blue beads gradually begin to float up, and the liquid above and below the beads is again clear. Now the stumper… Why is this happening? Read the rest of this entry »
8 Comments | Chemistry, College level, density, Elementary level, High School level, Middle School level | Tagged: density, discrepant event, hands-on activity, homeschool, isopropanol and salt water, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, salting out, science, science table | Permalink
Posted by Tami O'Connor
by: Tami O’Connor
Density is not typically an easy concept for most middle school students and even more difficult for younger students, but it doesn’t need to be. We all know that D=m/V, but the easiest way I found to explain it to my students was to have them visualize a common dilemma in my home immediately preceding a vacation. For years, as a poor starving teacher, I only had one suitcase, and it was actually a hand-me-down from my mother. It was a medium sized Samsonite, hard cased piece of luggage. When approaching the topic of density in my classroom, down from the attic it came.
My explanation began with an imaginary week-long summer vacation to a low-key resort. The class and I would brainstorm the items I needed to pack for my trip. Generally, the list included items such as a few bathing suits, shorts, t-shirts, a pair of flip flops, some PJs, underwear and a few toiletries. It was obvious by looking at the size of my suitcase that in addition to my meager belongings, I could have probably also fit one of my students in my bag… ok, perhaps one of the smaller kids.
I explained that when I closed the suitcase, it was hard to see, simply by looking at it, how heavy it was. The lesson didn’t stop there. We now planned my one-week ski vacation to Vermont during the February break. Once again, my students and I made up my pack list. The list included a couple of heavy sweaters, long johns, gloves, a hat, boots… as you can imagine, the list went on and on. The question was, where to put it all. Of course, since I had only one suitcase, the answer was easy. Read the rest of this entry »
7 Comments | density, Elementary level, experiments, Middle School level | Tagged: density, discrepant event, homeschool, Middle School students, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, science, sink or float | Permalink
Posted by Tami O'Connor
by: Cynthia House
I sponsor an after school Science Club in a K-5 elementary school. The club is organized into two-week-long sessions, each session focusing on a specific topic. One of this year’s most successful sessions involved the Archimedes Balance from Educational Innovations.
Students worked in pairs with first and second grade children teamed with a fourth or fifth grade student. We introduced the topic with a brief Power Point biography of Archimedes and his accomplishments, focusing on the story of King Hieron’s crown. Then students practiced determining the density of materials using the Archimedes balance and the samples supplied in the sets (all directions are included in the kit).
The Archimedes Balance relies on Archimedes’ principle which states that a floating object displaces its own weight of fluid. The balance consists of a graduated cylinder partially filled with water and a tube that fits inside the cylinder and can float in the water. By placing an object inside the inner tube and measuring the amount of water displaced, you can easily determine the objects weight. Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | Chemistry, density, Elementary level, experiments, High School level, Middle School level | Tagged: Archimedes balance, density, King Hieron's crown, mass, science club activities, volume | Permalink
Posted by Tami O'Connor
