Description:

Students are taught the beginning lessons in the “Properties” unit that lead up to the “Sink or Float” lesson. Students each bring two items that they have not tested and make a prediction as to whether the items will sink or float. They can make this prediction by holding the item with a thumbs up or thumbs down while the picture is being taken. Teacher takes a digital picture, and then student puts items in the water, one at a time, to see what happens. Teacher puts each child’s picture or pictures on an Appleworks Drawing document, adds a text box, and saves each one in a “Sink and Float” folder. In the computer lab, students are taught how to access their sink and float document. Each student writes about what items they brought, what their predictions were, and what actually happened. When each page is done, the pages are printed and bound together into a class book. The book is sent home with one child each night. Parent and child read the book together, and parents make comments on the back pages.

Timeframe

Varies as needed, possibly two computer sessions; some children may need more individual time.