by admiller

Created on: May 15, 2009

Follow the steps in this lesson plan to teach students the concept of density. Students will make predictions about which items will sink or float and relate their observations to the formula for density. Students will then be challenged to use what they know about density to use aluminum foil to design an object that will float and an item that will sink. A class discussion follows to wrap up the learning. By teaching density, students will learn that an object's density can be changed by altering its mass or by altering its volume.

Materials:

A bag of items that sink and float to use during opening demonstration

A large clear container filled half-way with water to use during the opening demonstration.

1 500 ml beaker per group of 4 students.

2 small sheets of aluminum foil per individual (6 in. x 6 in).

Experiment worksheets

Prediction Handout.

Lecture visual aids

Lesson Objectives. Write the lesson objectives on the board. "By the end of today's lesson, you will be able to 1) state why an object sinks or why it floats, 2) Use aluminum foil to construct an object that floats and an object that sinks." These objectives will help students focus their learning during the lesson.

Demonstration. Introduce the topic with a sink or float demonstration. Provide each student with a prediction handout or have them create one in their notebooks. Hold up an object, have students predict whether it will sink or float, test the object by placing it in water, have students record what they observed on their form. Use this opportunity to review vocabulary (Density, Mass, Weight, Volume).

Lecture. Provide background information through lecture. Use density visual aids to discuss mass, volume, and the formula for density. Explain that objects less dense than water will float and objects more dense than water will sink. Use the formula for density (D = M/V) to discuss how density can be changed by changing either mass or volume. Relate these principles to what was observed during the opening sink or float activity. Have students take notes during this discussion.

Comprehension Check. Check for student understanding. Before continuing, make sure students can answer these questions correctly: 1) If I increase volume what happens to density? (answer: it decreases) 2) If I decrease volume what happens to density? (answer: it increases) 3) If I increase mass what happens to density? (answer: it increases). 4) If I decrease mass what happens to density? (answer: it

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