Will it Float or Sink?

Why are there containers of water on the table? What if an object (button, miniature plastic animal, red cellophane wrap, plastic link, shell, etc.) is added to the water...does it float or sink? Why? What if Styrofoam is placed in the water...does it float or sink? Why? What if shaving cream is added to the water...will a miniature plastic elephant float or sink? Why? What if the toy elephant is put on the Styrofoam in the water...will it float or sink? Why?

What began as an introductory sensory and science experiment in Kitah Gimel at the start of camp has evolved into our summer theme - Water. Following the children's interests and questions, we are discussing and exploring the many aspects of water - from its sources, uses and properties to the ocean inhabitants and the weather. We introduced the concepts of Floating and Sinking and have expanded the experiments and discussion to wonder why there are these two options. What would happen if everything would float or if everything would sink? This question has led to a discussion of how HaShem created a world in harmony. Because there is a balance between things that float and things that sink, everything isn't in one place and we can enjoy the world with both these characteristics.


The campers' curiosity with "What If" and "Why" questions that accompany "Float or Sink?" experiments is still strong. Set out on the Science Table almost daily, the containers of water and test objects attract both individuals and clusters of children. They discuss and test their initial ideas and then discuss the results to design the next experiment. Looking for patterns in the results, they try again and again to arrive at the same (or different) outcome while giving imaginative and intuitive scientific responses to the "What If" and "Why" questions.