Exploring Density Activity

Teacher Notes

Think about transporting water around the room. Devise a way for students to get water to their work space. You may need extra containers or pitchers for this purpose.
Students will be carrying water around the room. Expect some spills and be prepared for students to clean them up by having paper or cloth towels on hand.
Students will likely need to be taught how to read a graduated cylinder. Demonstrate reading measurements for the students and check their progress as they work.

Provide a set of the following materials for each pair or small group of students. Suggest having students in partners or groups of three.

Graduated Cylinder: Example of Graduated Cylinder
Cup: Use to transport water to work station
Water: Each group will need approx. 25 mL of water each time they test an item.
Bag of items: Find 6 items per group that will fit inside the graduated cylinder. Suggested items: marble, small rock or pebble, penny, wooden cube (cm2), plastic cube, cap eraser, small toy
Balance with mass set: Any balance with mass set will work. A digital scale is another option. If you do not have enough balances for each group to have their own, consider setting up stations around the room for groups to access for measurement.

Retrieve all materials.
Examine materials and predict which items you think will be the most dense and the least dense. Record your predictions.
Find the mass of your first item using the balance and record it. This needs to be done before your item is placed in water in order to get an accurate measurement.
Fill your graduated cylinder with approximately 25 mL of water.
Record your exact volume of water before you measure the volume of each item.
Find the volume of you first item and water and record it.
Subtract the volume of water to find the volume of the item.
Calculate the density of your first item.
Remove the item from the graduated cylinder by pouring water into cup and shaking out item.
Begin again with the next item and repeat with all items until finished.

Check work students are doing as they work. Check measurement skills and calculation skills.

Ideas for items to use for finding density.

Fig.1. "Exploring Density," a photograph by Mary Kurvers, 2014.

Provide a set of the following materials for each pair or small group of students.

Retrieve all materials.
Examine materials and predict which items you think will be the most dense and the least dense. Record your predictions.
Find the mass of your first item using the balance and record it. This needs to be done before your item is placed in water in order to get an accurate measurement.
Fill your graduated cylinder with approximately 25 mL of water.
Record your exact volume of water before you measure the volume of each item.
Find the volume of you first item and water and record it.
Subtract the volume of water to find the volume of the item.
Calculate the density of your first item.
Remove the item from the graduated cylinder by pouring water into cup and shaking out item.
Begin again with the next item and repeat with all items until finished.

Materials

Name _______________________

Exploring Density Activity

Predictions

Which item do you think will be the most dense (highest density)?

Which item do you think will be the least dense (lowest density)?

Observations

Include correct labels with all measurements.

Item #1 - ________________________

Item #2 __________________________

Item #3 __________________________

Item #4 __________________________

Item #5 __________________________

Item #6 __________________________

Based on your measurements and calculations, which item was the most dense (highest density)?

Based on your measurements and calculations, which item was the least dense (lowest density)?

[1] "Exploring Density Materials," a photograph by Mary Kurvers, 2014.