FRUITY BOATS – SINKING AND FLOATING EXPERIMENT:

Objects float when they are less dense than the fluid they are in. If you dropped a tennis ball and a marble into a bucket of water.  The marble would sink and the tennis ball would float. This is because a tennis ball is full of air (it is not very dense) and a marble is solid (it is very dense). Huge ships float because although they are extremely heavy they have a lot of empty space inside.

You will need a selection of fruit (with a thick skin), materials to make boats with, cutting and scooping equipment!

First predict which fruit will float or sink in its natural form.  A tangerine will float with the peel on but take off it’s lifejacket (the peel!) and watch what happens now!

Cut some of the fruit open, such as a lime and scoop out the inside.  Does it float now?  Can you turn it into a boat? Will it still float?  Do you have the same result from a slice of melon? Or half a lemon or orange?

FRUITY BOAT – EXTENSION ACTIVITIES:

If you add more weight to the boats, do they still float or sink?

Can you predict which boats will sink and which will float before putting them on the water? Make a table to show your results.

What happens if you blow the boats? Can you have a race with a family member?

How can you make the boat change direction?

Remember to take photos for the Science Gallery.

Early Learning Goal 16: Exploring and using media and materials:

Safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function.