Kindergarten Fourth Six Weeks

Sinking Investigation

TEKS K1 The student participates in classroom and field investigations following home and school safety procedures. (B) Learn how to use and conserve resources and materials.

TEKS K2 The student develops abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry in the field and classroom.

(A) ask questions about organisms, objects, and events (B) plan and conduct simple descriptive investigations (C) gather information using simple equipment and tools to extend the senses (D) construct reasonable explanations using information (E) communicate finding about simple investigations

Activity: Students find ways to sink two of the floating wood samples by attaching paper clips with rubber bands to the wood. They discover how easy it is to sink the redwood compared to the particle sample. Students will complete a bar graph with the materials to compare the results.

Teacher directions:Detailed directions can be found in FOSS Wood and Paper Kit Investigation 1 Getting To Know Wood Part 5 Sinking Investigation pages 29-32 This is to be done after Part4 Sink the Pine and Plywood. This investigation can be set up as an ongoing center throughout the week, or as a whole group investigation.

  1. Prepare wood samples (pine, redwood, and particle board), clear basins with water, paper clips, rubber bands, and sponges or paper towels.
  2. Call students to rug and ask them how they were able to sink the wood samples from the previous day. Tell students they are going to work with redwood and particle board to find out exactly how many paper clips it takes to sink each one.
  3. Have each table (group) work together to complete the investigation. Students will add the amount of paper clips to each wood sample needed to sink the wood. Remind students to leave the paper clips on the wood once they have sunk them.

Student directions:

  1. Students will follow safety procedures needed and work cooperatively with their group to complete this task.
  2. Students will attach a single rubber band to the wood and the number of paper clips needed to sink each sample.
  3. Once both wood samples have sunk, remove the paper clips and organize them into a bar graph to determine which sample needed more paper clips.
  4. When students have finished making their graphs, they will discuss their results.
  5. Students will follow teacher’s directions to clean up their work space.

Sinking Investigation Scoring Guide


Wow! /
Nice Try /
Keep Working
I followed safety procedures to complete the investigation.
I worked nicely with my group.
I used the paper clips and rubber bands correctly.
I worked with my group to make a bar graph.
I followed directions to clean my work space.