Sink or Float
A dish tub and every object they can carry.
- Ages
- 2–8 yrs
- Play
- 10–30 min
- Prep
- 3 min
- Mess
- some
- Energy
- calm
- Where
- at the table
You’ll need
Things you probably have at home.
- water
- a big bowl or tubDon’t have it? Amazon
Optional
- foilDon’t have it? Amazon
- toys to test
- tongs for fishing things outDon’t have it? Amazon
How to play
Before you start: Half-fill a tub with water and set it on a towel. Gather a basket of small objects.
Hold up an object and ask: sink or float?
Let them drop it in and find out.
Sort the results into two piles as you go.
Once the piles are big, ask what the floaters have in common.
Make a foil boat and see how many coins or beads it holds before it goes under.
What it helps with
Keep it safe
- Never leave a child alone with standing water, even a few centimeters.
- Dry the floor as you go.
Make it different next time
- Squash the foil boat into a ball and watch the same foil sink.
- Add salt to the water and retest the borderline objects.
Cleanup: Fish everything out, dry it, tip the water on a plant.
