1. “Exploring the material world” Some physical properties of water…
Teaching kit
“Exploring the material world”
Some physical properties of water…

2. Some physical properties of water…
Through simple experiments with water, children can discover some of its physical properties : pressure, the Archimedes principle and buoyancy.

3. Activity 11 : Some physical properties of water…
The first time, this activity will be performed under the mediator’s supervision.
Children will be able to repeat the experiments on their own after testing them with the mediator.

4. Side 1 ? Activity 11 : Buoyancy
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
Activity 11 : Buoyancy
Side 1 ?
It floats, Isidor!
But you can also make it sink if you want…
Does my cork float or sink?

5. ? - Tell me what you can see on the sheet… Question 1 : Sheet n° 11
It floats, Isidor!
But you can also make it sink if you want…
Does my cork float or sink?

6. ? - What is Isidor thinking of?
Sheet n° 11
- What is Isidor thinking of?
(while showing the thought bubble with the cork floating and sinking). ?
It floats, Isidor!
But you can also make it sink if you want…
Does my cork float or sink?

7. ? - Do you think Marianne is right? - Let’s check…
(The mediator will read the dialogue between the two characters)
- Do you think Marianne is right?
- Let’s check…
Sheet n° 11 ?
It floats, Isidor!
But you can also make it sink if you want…
Does my cork float or sink?

8. In the course of these exchanges with the adult, an orderly pattern of questioning, clear concepts and, ultimately, knowledge will take shape.

9. Does it float or does it sink?
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
Experiment 1 :
Does it float or does it sink? ?

10. - Tell me what you can see on the sheet…
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
Question 1 :
- Tell me what you can see on the sheet…
Expected answer :
“basins full of water, corks etc…”

11. At nursery school, the important thing is that children should identify and name what they see.

12. Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
- Where is the cork?
Possible help: on top of the water? Or at the bottom of the basin?

13. Questions to ask the children :
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
Questions to ask the children :
- What do you call it when the cork stays on top?
Help the children to find the word “float”

14. Explanation to give the children:
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
Explanation to give the children:
The force of the water causes the cork to float
- Water has a force, you can feel it by placing your hand on top.
- But the force of your hand is stronger than the force of the water.

15. Questions to ask the children:
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
Questions to ask the children:
- Push the cork to the bottom of the basin with your hand.

16. - The force of your hand is stronger than the force of the water.
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
Explanation:
- The force of your hand is stronger than the force of the water.
The cork sinks

17. Questions to ask the children:
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
Questions to ask the children:
- If you take your hand away, what will happen? ?

18. Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
Explanation:
The force of the water pushes the cork back to the surface.

19. Questions to ask the children:
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
Questions to ask the children:
- If you want the cork to stay at the bottom without pressing down on it with your hand, what can you do? ?

20. Suggestions for the children:
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
Suggestions for the children:
- If you want to repeat these experiments, they are described on the back of the activity sheet (cf side 2)

21. Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
Side 2
The force of the water causes the cork to float.
The force of my hand is stronger than the force of the water.
The cork sinks.
The force of the water pushes the cork back to the surface.
If you want the cork to stay at the bottom without pressing down on it with your hand, what can you do?

22. Does floating also depend on the shape of the object?
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
Experiment 2 :
Does floating also depend on the shape of the object?

23. - Tell me what you can see on the sheet…
Question 1 :
- Tell me what you can see on the sheet…
Sheet n° 11
Draw their attention to the basins and the modelling clay (plasticine).

24. Repeat the experiment with the plasticine. Does it float or sink?
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
Repeat the experiment with the plasticine. Does it float or sink?

25. Experiments to try out:
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
Experiments to try out:
1. Make a ball with the plasticine.
Will the plasticine ball float or sink?

26. If we make a ball with the plasticine, it sinks.
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
Explanation:
If we make a ball with the plasticine, it sinks.

27. Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
Explanation:
When the force of the plasticine is greater than the force of the water, it sinks.

28. Will the plasticine boat float or sink?
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
Next stage in the experiment:
Make a little boat with the plasticine.
Will the plasticine boat float or sink?

29. If we make a “boat” with the plasticine, it floats..
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
Next stage in the experiment:
If we make a “boat” with the plasticine, it floats..

30. Next stage in the experiment:
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
Next stage in the experiment:
When the force of the water is greater than the force of the plasticine, the plasticine floats.

31. Side 3 Experiment 2: Floating also depends on the shape of the object.
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
Experiment 2: Floating also depends on the shape of the object.
Repeat the experiment using plasticine. Does it float or sink?
Side 3
1. If we make a ball with the plasticine, it sinks.
2. If we make a little “boat” with the plasticine, it floats.
When the force of the plasticine is greater than the force of the water, it sinks.
When the force of the water is greater than the force of the pasticine, the plasticine floats.

32. Drawing and pictures are aids to discussion and to attempts at representation which are themselves new subjects of discussion.

33. How can an object that would naturally sink be
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
Experiment 3:
How can an object that would naturally sink be
made to float? ?

34. Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
The force of the potato is greater than the force of the water: the potato sinks.
(like the plasticine)

35. How can an object that would naturally sink be made to float?
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
How can an object that would naturally sink be
made to float?

36. - Tell me what you can see on the sheet…
Question 1 :
- Tell me what you can see on the sheet…
Sheet n° 11
Attention should be drawn to the basins, the potatoes and the corks…

37. Questions to ask the child:
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
Questions to ask the child:
How do you think we could help it to float?
Possible answers: with a cork…
One cork is not enough, the force of the potato is still greater than the force of the water: the potato sinks.

38. Questions to ask the children:
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
Questions to ask the children:
- What could we do?
Expected reply: “use several corks …”
Several corks spread around the potato are needed for it to float.

39. Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
Explanation:
The force which the potato combined with the corks exerts on the water is evenly spread.
The force of the potato is not greater than the force of the water, so the potato can float.

40. Experiment 3 : How can an object that would naturally sink be
Exploring the material world: some physical properties of water Sheet n° 11
Experiment 3 : How can an object that would naturally sink be
made to float?
Side 4
The force of the potato is greater than the force of the water: the potato sinks.
(like the plasticine)
One cork is not enough, the force of the potato is still greater than the force of the water: the potato sinks.
Several corks spread around the potato are needed for it to float.
The force which the potato combined with the corks exerts on the water is evenly spread.

41. Make a notebook with the children
The children will be able to note down what they do at each stage in the experiment
- experiment 1: the force of the water, buoyancy
- experiment 2: floating depends on the shape of the object
- experiment 3: how an object which would naturally sink can be made to float

42. The written recording of observations (dictated to an adult) helps to memorise knowledge, become aware of relationships in space and time and identify causal links.

43. the child should be able to…
1. describe floating and use the word “buoyancy”
2. conduct simple experiments to make objects that would naturally sink float:
- by changing their shape,
- by attaching corks to them.
On completion of the activity
the child should be able to…

44. the child should be able to…
On completion of the activity
the child should be able to…
3. formulate simple theories and test them.
4. observe the phenomena and suggest solutions to the problems set by the adult.