Grade 4 MATTER- Properties of Matter

Activity 6: What materials float and what materials sink?

Objectives:

a. Identify materials that float and sink.

b. Describe the kind of materials that float and sink.

What you need:

Plastic bottle with cover, plastic saucer, metal spoon,1 small stone,
1 large stone, 2 pcs 5-peso coin, pingpong ball, orange, plastic spoon, sponges,
foil paper

What you will do:

1.The laboratory assistant will get the materials to be used from the
teacher.
2. Put all the materials on the table.
3. Ask the other members to describe the characteristics of the plastic
bottle with cover.
4. The recorder will record the description of the plastic bottle with cover
in Table 1.
5. Pour water in the basin.
6. Place the plastic bottle with cover in the basin filled with water.
7. Observe the plastic bottle with cap while in the water. Did it float or sink?
8. Lift the plastic bottle with cover from the basin. Did the plastic bottle
with cover absorb water?
9. Record your observation in Table 1.
10. Remove the cover of the plastic bottle.
11. Place the bottle with no cover in the basin filled with water.
12. Observe the plastic bottle without cover while in the water.
Did it float or sink?
13. Lift the plastic bottle without cover from the basin. Did the bottle take
up water through a hole?
14. Record your observation in Table 1.
15. Repeat procedures 3 to 4 with plastic saucer, metal spoon,1 small
stone, 1 large stone, 5-peso coin wrapped with foil paper, pingpong
ball, orange, plastic spoon, sponges.
16. Repeat procedures 6 to 9 with plastic saucers, metal spoon,1 small
 stone, 1 large stone, 2 pcs 5-peso coin wrapped with foil paper,
pingpong ball, orange, plastic spoon, and sponges
17. Which sinks faster, the small stone or the large stone? Why?
18. Make a square box out of foil paper.
19. Place the coin inside the box. Then, place the box in the
basin filled with water. Did it float or sink?
20. What characteristic have you observe with the small box made of foil
paper?
21. Record your observation in the table below.
22. After observing all the materials, clean up your working space. Return
all the materials in the proper place for future use.
22. Present your results from Table 1 to the class.

Table 1. Materials that Float and those that Sink

Name of Characteristics of Does the Characteristics of the

material the material material float materials that make
BEFORE placing on or sink them float or sink
the water
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Questions

What are the different characteristics of materials that make them float?
What are the characteristics that make materials sink?

Source: Activity sheet adapted from Grade 3 Learning Material, April 10, 2014