Sink or Float in the Paddling Pool
Collect a tray of things from around the house and yard, guess for each one whether it will sink, then drop it in. The stone that floats and the apple that will not sink cause the loudest arguments.
What you need
- A paddling pool or a big basin of water
- A cork, a spoon, a stone, an apple, a leaf, a plastic lid and other small things
- A towel
- Hats — wet skin burns faster, not slower
How to play
- Fill the pool with a hand's depth of water and stay beside your child the whole time.
- Lay out ten objects on the grass and sort them into two piles: will sink, will float.
- Drop them in one at a time and move each one to the right pile afterwards.
- Look at what surprised you and try to say out loud what the floaters have in common.
- Push a floating object right under, let go and watch what it does.
- Fish everything out, dry it off and empty the pool when you finish.
