Leader Guide
Optional Opening Game
- Container that holds water (wash tub, plastic storage container, etc.)
- Water to fill the container about half full
- Optional: table
- Towels for drying hands or spills and placing the wet objects on
- A variety of objects that either float or sink, at least one per child in the class. Choose from some of the following or add your own: penny, nickel, dime, quarter, rock, mulch chip, metal spoon, metal bolt, metal washer, key, bar of soap, toy boat, metal paper clip, 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, leaf, etc.
- Bag to carry the objects
Gather objects that sink or float—at least one per child—and place the objects in a bag.
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 dry wet items after they have been used.
Sit down with the children in a large circle around the container so everyone can see.
In the Bible story, Noah built a huge boat called an ark, exactly as God told him. Because Noah obeyed all of God’s instructions, the huge, heavy boat floated! God told Noah to paint the outside of the ark with tar. The tar kept the boat air-tight, so it would not sink—even with all the people and animals inside! Noah was obedient, and God protected him in the ark from the flood.
Hold up the bag of items. In this bag are some items that will float like a boat and some that will sink. You will each have a turn to select an item from the bag and guess whether it will float or sink.
Options: You may allow children to see all the items and choose one on their turn or have them reach into the bag without looking to choose an item.
Next, the whole class will have a “float vote.” You will 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!
Note: the teacher may place each object in the water to prevent children from getting wet.
Start the activity and allow every child to have at least one 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 fun! Did anyone guess all of the items correctly? Children respond.