Lesson Plan

Can You Make A Penny Float?

Main Subject Area: Science

Additional Subjects: Science

Duration of Lesson:  45 minutes

Keywords:

• Density
• Float
• Sink

Brief Description:

Students will explore the concept of density by trying to make a penny and other materials float.

National Standard(s):

• Physical science

Additional Subject Area Standard(s):

Objectives:

Students will explore the concept of density.

Students will use available materials to solve a problem.

Materials (online):

Materials (offline):

Bowl or small pail

Water

Circulating U.S. cent

Ball of clay

Other objects that will sink or float, such as a paper clip, cork, ping-pong ball, or button

Paper towels

Science lab notebook

Coins Used in Lesson:

Circulating U.S. cents

Grade Level(s):   3-5  

Procedures (online):

Procedures (offline):

1. Introduce this activity by holding a discussion about sinking and floating.

2. As a class, develop a definition for sinking and floating.

3. Hold up all of the objects and ask students to predict if think they would sink or float.

4. Divide the students into groups of 3-4.

5. Distribute materials to each group.

6. Have each group conduct experiments to see if the different objects sink or float.

7. Have each student record his or her results in their science lab notebooks. Also, ask each student to write qualities of objects that sink and qualities of objects that float in their notebook.

8. Lastly, challenge the students to see if they can make their penny float. They can use the objects they have, but nothing else. (They need to flatten the clay ball into a boat, and then put the penny into the boat.)

Assessment / Evaluation:

You can evaluate students by having them identify objects that sink and objects that float.

Differentiated Learning Options:

N/a