Sink or float science and STEM experiments and popular with early education and early elementary school teachers. These experiments are easy to prepare and conduct and have a fun wow factor with students. Back in September, I wrote a blog post about a Halloween candy-themed sink or float STEM activity you can use in your classroom. This blog post is about another sink or float activity... but with a twist. In this STEM activity, you will be dropping objects into a container of oil and water. How will this change the results? Keep reading to find out!
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Floating or Sinking STEM Experiment
This experiment requires a handful of items... the majority of which you probably have already.
For this experiment, you will need:
- plant-based, mineral, or baby oil
- water
- large glass
- small toy bricks
- coins
- other small objects
- optional: food coloring
The first step of this experiment teaches students
about density and displacement. I added a
drop of blue food coloring to the water to highlight the difference between
the two layers.
Directions:
- Fill the glass halfway with water.
- Slowly pour some oil into the glass. Do NOT let the oil and water mix!
- Drop the small objects into the glass one at a time. Which ones float? Which ones sink? Which ones appear to be stuck between the two layers?
The second step of this experiment teaches the students about sink vs.
float. We dropped all sorts of random items into the jar... buttons,
coins, cough drops, screws, and glitter. The buttons floated on top
of the oil. The glitter floated on the water, but not the oil.
Everything else sunk to the bottom of the jar.
Recording the Results
Parents and teachers who are interested in extending their students' learning may choose to have their students record their predictions and the results of this experiment. If you're interested in doing this, feel free to download the printable below.
To download a FREE copy of this record sheet (two pages in all), please
click on the image above. Clicking this image will take you to the
Teachers-Pay-Teachers third-party website. This is a FREE download-- no purchase necessary.
Did you enjoy reading about this Sink or Float STEM Experiment? If
so, check out these blog posts with more STEM activities for you to try:
- STEM + Printable: Does Halloween Candy Sink or Float?
- STEM: Straw Bridge STEM Challenge
- STEM: Pepper and Soap STEM Experiment
- Book + STEM: Dragon's Breath by Michael Gordon + Dippin' Dandelions STEM Challenge
- Book + STEM: The Night Before St. Patrick's Day by Natasha Wing + Leprechaun Traps
- STEM: Hot Chocolate Surprise + STEM Activity
- STEM: Dippin' Dandelions STEM Challenge
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