Leader Guide
Experiment
- Large and low container such as a kiddie pool or washtub
- Water to fill the container about halfway
- Towels for spills and to place the wet objects on
- Gather as many of the following objects as possible, so each child has a chance to use a different item. Substitute and add your own objects as desired, ensuring that some sink and some float. Make sure all articles cannot be harmed by water and are completely safe for children to handle, such as the following: craft stick, plastic bottle with lid, leaf, grape, penny, nickel, dime, quarter, rock, mulch chip, metal spoon, metal fork, metal bolt, metal nut, metal washer, key, metal pen, bar of soap, toy boat, small metal screwdriver, metal horseshoe, metal wrench, metal paper clip, toothpick, plastic bottle cap, plastic spoon, plastic fork, plastic straw, plastic cup, feather, glue stick with lid on, guitar pick, clarinet reed, plastic golf ball, ping pong ball, rubber ball, bouncy ball, whiffle ball, unsharpened pencil, twig, small branch, walnut in the shell (be aware of allergies!), etc.
- Bag to carry objects above.
- Optional: painter’s tape or masking tape
- Whiteboard and marker or chalkboard and chalk to keep score
Place the container on the floor or a table, and fill it about halfway with water.
Have towels ready to mop up any spills and to dry wet items after they have been used.
Sit down with the children in a large circle around the container so everyone can see the experiment.
That Sinking Feeling: Perform an experiment to determine which objects float in the water.
In the Bible story, Moses’ mother applied tar to the basket so it would float in the water. Without the tar, the basket would quickly sink, especially with the weight of the baby inside! Moses was safe because of his mother’s care. Today, we are safe in God’s care. We are protected—sometimes, when we don’t even realize it!
Now, we all are going to participate in a fun experiment. Hold up the bag of items. In this bag are some items. Some will float, and some will sink. You will each have a turn to select an item from the bag and guess whether it will float or sink. Optional: you may allow children to see the item they choose or have them choose an item without looking into the bag.
Next, the whole class will have a “float vote.” Raise your hands if you think the item will float, or keep your hands down if you think it will sink! Finally, the person who chose the item will put it into the water, and we’ll see what happens!
Start the activity and allow every child to have a turn. Leave some objects in the water if possible; to make room, you may need to remove some and place them on a towel to dry. That was very interesting and fun! Did anyone guess all of the items correctly? Children respond.
Which items surprised you with the results? Children answer.
How were all of the metal objects alike? All of them sank. Most metal objects cannot float unless they are shaped like a boat.
Optional discussion for Grades 4–6: In another Bible story, God performed a miracle through a man named Elijah and made a metal object float. Can anyone tell me what it was? An ax head. A man had lost the ax head in the water, and Elijah did a miracle by the power of God, making the ax head rise to the surface of the water and float. This also brought glory to God’s name. Without a doubt, God inspired Moses’ mother to do what she did to keep Moses safe. He had important plans for Moses many years later!