Properties of Matter: Temperature, Mass, Magnetism, and Sink/Float

We have been learning about the Properties of Matter. Matter is anything that takes up space. For example, solids, liquids, and gas. We measured temperature last week and focused on degrees Celsius. This week, we measured the mass of different objects using a triple beam balance. The units we used were grams. After that, the students went around the room and discovered objects that were magnetic and non-magnetic. Today, we learned about sinking and floating. The students predicted if an empty plastic egg would sink or float. They predicted if it would sink or float with 1 penny in the egg, 3 pennies in the egg, and 12 pennies. We then filled up the egg with as many pennies as it took to make it sink (about 40). The students made the connection that the more air that was in the egg, the more it would float. They also discovered the more dense the egg, the more it would sink. For each experiment the students made predictions about their results. They then drew conclusions based on their predictions vs the actual results. Ask your child to share what they learned!