Super Easy Fall Sink or Float Preschool Science Activity

This Fall Sink or Float Preschool Science Activity post was contributed by Sarah of Little Bins For Little Hands.

Sensory play is a wonderful way to learn! Most of the time our bins are filled with dry materials for sensory activities, but we also enjoy using water for sensory play. Although a little messy, it is still fun to do inside.

It has been a while since we have done a sink and float preschool science activity, so why not do a fall-themed sink and float science experiment? My son loves fun science experiments, so I knew it was time to set up this invitation to play again.

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Easy Fall Sink or Float Preschool Science Activity

I created this invitation to experiment by choosing lots of fall items for him to experiment with, including items that have been in our sensory bin and placing them on our favorite tray. This time, I also included some items – baking tins and egg carton pieces – that could double as boats. I was hoping to have him experiment with sinking a floating boat or keeping the boat floating.

Our Fall Sink or Float Preschool Science Activity

Here’s what we used:

• red and green apples
• mini pumpkins
• acorns
• walnuts
• fake leaves (but you could use real ones, too, of course)
• pine cones
• stones and gems
• craft store rattan balls
• apple-shaped silicone baking tray
• large and small aluminum loaf pans
• egg carton pieces (we used cardboard, but you could use styrofoam, too)

Using the Scientific Method to Hypothesize & Sort Fall Objects

To start off the science experiment, we used the Scientific Method to think about which items on the tray would float and which items would sink.

I put out two tubs for him to sort items into sink or float. We talked a little about why he thought an item would sink or float, including weight and size. I was glad he chose some things incorrectly, so he could really see an experiment in action.

Also, I had him help me fill the bin with warm water. (I find that if the water is on the warm side it is more enjoyable.) We have a large bin on wheels that he rolls over to the sink and uses the hose attachment on the faucet. It’s quite a treat!

Experimenting with Sink or Float

Once the bin was filled, he chose the sink items first. He was almost in disbelief that some of the items that he thought would sink, like the apples, did not! He had also chosen the gems as floating because they were small, but they really sank because they were heavy. The large aluminum baking pan was a sink item and the small one was a floating item, but he noticed that they both float. I was glad he commented on it all and remembered whether he had chosen something to sink or float. We repeated the process for each item in both bins.

When we were finished determining what each item would do, I asked him to try to sink the pretend boats (aluminum pans, silicone apple, and egg crate). He tried putting different combinations of items into each pan to see what was just enough or too much and separating smaller items and bigger items between the different boats. He noticed it took a lot of items to sink the large pan and fewer items to sink the little one. Or it took lighter items and fewer heavier ones! Another observation was that just the right amount of items like the gems in the apple tray would still let the apple tray float.

The final part of the sink and float experiment was to put everything back into the two bins, still choosing sink and float. This time, however, the task was using actual observation rather than just a hypothesis. I showed him a picture of the two bins before we started the experiment and he pointed out the differences. Lots of things he thought would sink actually floated. He remarked how he thought it was cool!

We wrapped up our Preschool science activity with what else? Free play, of course! Lots of splashing, sinking ships, making waves, and plunking walnuts and acorns. The floor was a little wet when he finished, but it was all in the name of science!

Print & Share this EASY Preschool Fall Science Activity:

Easy Fall Sink or Float Preschool Science Activity

Introduce your child to the Scientific Method and the concepts of sink or float with this fun and EASY fall preschool science activity!

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Prep Time5 minutes

Activity Time15 minutes

Total Time20 minutes

Materials

• apple (various types and sizes)
• mini pumpkin (various types and sizes)
• acorns
• walnuts (in shell) (in shells)
• leaves (various types, real or artificial)
• pine cones (various sizes)
• river rocks (various sizes)
• decorative wicker rattan ball (various sizes)
• silicone muffin pan (apple- or leaf-shaped)
• plastic storage bin/tray (medium to large, for sensory play) (large, plastic or disposable aluminum)
• recycled cardboard egg carton (cut into various sizes)
• plastic food storage container (various sizes)
• water (enough to fill one pan halfway)

Steps

• Fill one pan about halfway with water. Place objects in the other pan or on a surface nearby.
  
• Demonstrate and discuss the scientific concept of sinking versus floating by placing one floating and one sinking object in the pan of water. Then, remove the objects and set aside.
• Encourage your child to pick up and examine the various fall-themed objects. Discuss the characteristics and weight of the objects and form a hypothesis about (i.e. guess) which objects will sink or float. Sort the objects based on this hypothesis if desired.
  
• Have your child test their hypothesis by choosing an item and placing it in the water. Discuss the results of the experiment and set the object aside before choosing and testing another. Sort objects by "sink" or "float" results if desired.
  
• Show your child how to use the egg carton pieces, food storage containers, and muffin pan as floating boats on the water. Encourage your child to experiment by placing various objects in the boats to see how many objects it takes to sink each boat.
• Encourage imaginative and sensory play during and after the science activity.
  

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Project Type: Learning · Play · Sensory

Category: Kid-Friendly · Seasonal

More Ideas for Preschool Sensory Fun:

• 6 Fun Fall Activities from the Kids Co-Op
• Sweet Citrus Sensory Tray
• Animal Maze Play for Fine Motor Development

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosure policy.