🍁 Sink or Float?

An Autumn Science Investigation

Make a prediction, gather safe items, put them into water one by one, and record what really happened. Then build a results graph. No guessing the “correct” result before you test.

🔍 Predict💧 Test📊 Graph💡 Explain

Learning levelLearner name (optional)

Set up the real experiment

You'll need a shallow container of water, a towel, and 5–8 safe household or found objects. An adult supervises water and small objects. Never taste or swallow collected items, use unknown berries or mushrooms, or leave young children unattended with water. Substitute household items if you cannot find an object.

STEP 1 + 2

Predict it. Then test it.

What do you think? What really happened? Make your prediction before you put the item in water. After testing, tap what you actually saw.

Object	My prediction	Real result
🍂Dry leafSome dry leaves rest on the surface, but may change once soaked.
🍁Wet leafTry the same leaf after it becomes wet. Results can change.
🪵Small twigDifferent kinds of wood may behave differently.
🌲PineconeAir trapped among the scales can affect what happens.
🌰AcornIts condition, including air spaces, can change the result.
🪨Small stoneMost common stones sink, but test your own.
🟤CorkCork usually floats because of its material and air-filled structure.
🍎AppleA whole apple usually floats because its overall density is low enough.

0 / 8 predicted0 / 8 tested8 real-world observations left

STEP 3

See your results grow

This chart counts your observations, not expected answers.

Floated

Sank

Some things stay at the top of the water. Others go to the bottom. Let’s test and see!

STEP 4 • SCIENCE NOTEBOOK

Think, explain, and try again

Circle a result, then tell a grown-up what surprised you.

My experiment showed…

Your own science experiment is in progress. You can come back on this device.

Science note: whether a particular leaf, acorn, twig, or pinecone floats can change with moisture, material, air spaces, and the object itself. No answer is automatically filled in.

More printable science and fall activities →Early reading activities →Find a school skill →Flexible learning support →

🍂 LEARN4LEGACY™ SCIENCE1st Grade

NAME: ________________________ DATE: ______________

Sink or Float? An Autumn Investigation

I can make a prediction, test objects, collect evidence, and explain what I notice.

1. My hypothesis

I think _______________________ will float because ______________________________.

And I predict _______________________ will sink because __________________________.

2. Test each object

Put one item in a shallow bowl of water with adult supervision. Check your prediction and record the real result.

Object	My guess: float	My guess: sink	Real: float	Real: sink
🍂 Dry leaf	□	□	□	□
🍁 Wet leaf	□	□	□	□
🪵 Small twig	□	□	□	□
🌲 Pinecone	□	□	□	□
🌰 Acorn	□	□	□	□
🪨 Small stone	□	□	□	□
🟤 Cork	□	□	□	□
🍎 Apple	□	□	□	□

3. Draw your results graph

Color one square for each observed object.

Floated□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □Sank□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □

4. My conclusion

Something that surprised me was…

Explain why you think the results happened.