Sink or Float Worksheets

What this worksheet set covers

The set introduces sinking and floating through picture sorting, prediction tables, matching tasks and simple recording activities. Younger children can circle, colour or draw objects under the correct heading. Older children can write predictions, compare results and explain why an object behaved differently from another. Familiar items such as a spoon, leaf, stone, bottle cap or toy block make the topic easy to connect with daily life. The activities also build useful science words such as heavy, light, surface, bottom, water and predict.

Use the sheets before and after testing

Begin with a tray or bowl of water and ask your child to predict what will happen before testing each safe object. Complete the worksheet after the test so your child can compare the prediction with the observation. In class, small groups can test a shared collection, with one child reading, one testing and another recording. Use the completed sheet for a short discussion, then try Science Experiments for Kids for more simple investigation ideas. Keep towels nearby and avoid very small items with young children.

Help children explain the result

A common mistake is thinking that every heavy object sinks and every light object floats. Show this with a large wooden block and a small metal coin, then ask what the materials have in common. Children may also predict from an object's size or confuse floating with staying completely above the water. Talk about how a floating object remains at the surface while a sinking object goes to the bottom. Older children can compare two objects of similar size, or test whether changing the shape of modelling clay changes its result.