Will Your Boat Float?

Objective(s)
Students will be able to understand how density and buoyancy can be applied to
real life.
Students will practice the skills of solving volume, density, and buoyancy.
Students will determine be able to determine if an object can float or not.

Grade Level
Approximately 6th Grade
30 minutes

Level of Inquiry
Level 3:
Guided Inquiry: no experimental procedure is provided, but task is
given (challenge)

State Standards
http://www.state.nj.us/education/cccs/standards/5/
5.2.6.A.1 : Determining volume of objects using water displacement methods.
5.2.6.A.2 : The density of an object can be determined from its volume and mass.

National Standards
http://www.nextgenscience.org/search-standards
MP.2 : Reason abstractly and quantitiatively.
MP.4 : Model with mathematics.
MP.5 : Use appropriate tools strategically.
5.NF.B.7 : Apply and extend previous understandings of division to divide unit
fractions by whole numbers by unit fractions.
5.MD.A.1 : Convert among different-sized standard measurement units within a given
measurement system and use these conversions in solving multi-step, real world
problems.
5.MD.C.3 : Recognize volume as an attribute of solid figures and understand concepts of
volume measurement.
5MD.C.4 : Measure volumes by counting unit cubes, using cubic cm, cubic in, cubic ft,
and improvised units.

Materials Needed
Aluminum Foil Tape Pennies
Water Calculator Lab book/ Journal
Tub/ bucket Metric ruler Measuring cup/pitcher
Scale Paper towels

Lab Notes (optional)

Make sure students use dry pennies when placing them inside their boats.
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Planning Stages within the 5-E Instructional Model

Be sure to describe how you are incorporating each of the following elements throughout
this lesson. This part should be descriptive enough that if you gave it to another teacher
they would be able to easily follow it and teach it to their own students.

Engage
We will start by showing a Bill Nye video on buoyancy, asking some questions about
buoyancy and density. Only watch 2 minutes into it to introduce the idea of buoyancy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM1bAtIQkW4
Explore
We will provide equations on the board for the students to use to use to find density and
buoyancy, since we are assuming the students learned this in a past lesson. And we will
guide them by providing a challenge, to build two boats out of the provided materials and
determine which boat has a greater buoyancy and density. We will have students
complete the provided chart and show their work in their journals. We will be walking
around making sure each group is on task and understanding the ideas. We will guide
them while answering their questions and asking questions to keep them on track.

Volume: The amount of space that a substance or object occupies, or that is

enclosed within a container
(Rectangle Method): Length x Width x Height
(Dry Rice Method): Fill the boat with rice, then pour the rice into a measuring cup
and the amount of rice in the cup is the volume, in milliliters (mL)
Buoyancy: Multiply the number of pennies by the weight of one penny in grams [2.5
grams = weight of 1 penny (or use scale to determine weight of penny)].
Density: Divide the mass (buoyancy) by the volume.

Explain
As the students fill out the provided chart, this will clarify if they understand the new
concepts and skills learned in the previous lesson. We will have students draw
conclusions based on their findings by asking them about the relationship they observed
between the buoyancy of the boat and the volume of the boat.
What is he relationship you observed between the buoyancy of the boat and the
volume of the boat?
Did the shape of the boat make a difference in the buoyancy?
Did the shape of the boat make a difference in the density before sinking?
Boat Hull Volume (in cm3) Number of Buoyancy: Weight it Density Before
Pennies Supported (in grams) Sinking (in grams
Supported per cm3)
1
2

Elaborate
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Next, after the students have drawn conclusions about their boats, we will have them
apply their conclusions to build a greater understanding. We will ask them to decide what
determines if a boat sinks or floats, they should have come to the conclusion that density
determines if an object sinks or floats.
Evaluate
We will be using formative assessment to assess students ability to use new skills and
knowledge learned. We will make note of their development throughout the lab and
evaluate their understanding of the lesson. A summative assessment will take place after
other lessons are completed.

References
Include any and all references/resources utilized for this lesson.
o http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-
projects/project_ideas/Aero_p020.shtml#procedure
o http://www.wikihow.com/Find-Density
o http://www.corestandards.org/Math/
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM1bAtIQkW4
o http://www.state.nj.us/education/cccs/standards/5/5-2.htm
o http://www.nextgenscience.org/5spm-structures-properties-matter
Include a link (if applicable) to your cookbook lab AND provide a copy of the
cookbook lesson along with this lesson plan.
o http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-
projects/project_ideas/Aero_p020.shtml#procedure