Floating And Sinking: Carolina Curriculum Analysis

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Floating and Sinking was published by Smithsonian Institution and the National Science Resources Center. The curriculum, also known as the Carolina Curriculum was published in 1988 and integrates STC (Science and Technology for Children). The STC units constructs that each learner learn science best in a hands-on experimental environment where they can make their own discoveries. This curriculum integrates grades 4-6. Students begin by making and testing predictions about whether a set of objects will sink or float. This introduces inquiry on the effect of weight, size, and shape on floating and sinking. In this curriculum, students also explore the effect of shape on buoyancy. Students are also prepared for a design challenge in which they …show more content…

Density is how heavy an object is for it’s size. (Observing, Predicting, and Questioning)
Hands-on-activity: Test whether a log and paperclip will float or sink.
An item will float if its light for its size. An item will sink if it's heavy for its size.
An object floats when it is less dense than the same amount of water and an object sinks when it is more dense than the same amount of water. Example: Metal is more dense than water.

Gravity
Day 2 - Objects float because it’s weight and size act together so that the water pushes up on the object with a force equal to the force of gravity pulling it down. The upward water push of the water depends on the amount of space an object, for example, ship, occupies under water. This is called the buoyant force which is also known as the floating force. (Hypothesizing and Observing)
Hands- on -activity: Compare boats made of different material in water to see the buoyant force in effect for …show more content…

An opening question will be used stating, “what do you know about density?” After the open discussion, students will do the log and paperclip activity. They will test their predictions on whether the paperclip and log will sink or float. Students will visually be able to see that size does not account to whether an object floats or sinks. Clearly, the paperclip is smaller in size but it will still sink because it is heavy for its size. The formative assessment for day 1 will be given orally. After the activity, students will think-pair-share and talk about their predictions results and discuss what makes an object float and sink. They will also recall density and its

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