Floating is a fascinating way things behave when they are on water or in the air. For kindergarten, floating is when something rests on top of the water instead of sinking down.
What Does Floating Mean?
Based on what we know, floating is exactly what it sounds like: when objects either completely, or partially, rest on the surface of the water. Think about your toys in the bathtub!
How Does it Look?
- When something floats, it stays on the very top of the water.
- Sometimes, it sits high on the water, like a little rubber duck.
- Other times, it sinks down a little bit but still stays on top, like a big boat.
Does Floating Only Happen in Water?
No, floating does not only occur in water! It can also happen in the air. Have you ever seen a balloon filled with helium float up into the sky? That's also floating! Clouds float in the air too.
Is it About How Heavy Something Is?
A lot of people think only light things float and heavy things sink. But this isn't necessarily true! It's a little tricky.
Sometimes, something really big and heavy, like a ship, can float. And sometimes, something small, like a tiny pebble, can sink. So, it's not just about how much something weighs, but also how big it is and what it's made of.
Fun Things That Float (and Some That Sink!)
Here are some examples you might know:
| Things That Float | Things That Sink |
|---|---|
| Rubber Duck | Rock |
| Leaf | Coin |
| Wooden Block | Key |
| Plastic Toy Boat | Marble |
| Air-filled Ball | Spoon |
Try it Yourself!
You can do a fun experiment at home with a grown-up!
- Get a bowl of water.
- Find different small things like a leaf, a pebble, a bottle cap, a crayon, or a small toy.
- Gently put each thing in the water and see if it floats on top or sinks to the bottom.
- Talk about what you see! Which things float? Which things sink?
Floating is a cool science idea about how objects interact with liquids like water, or even with air!
