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The Shape of Floatation
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In this activity (on page 2 of the PDF under GPS: Sailboat Design Activity), learners will discover how the shape of an object, not just its weight, determines whether it floats or sinks.

Cartesian Diver
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In this demonstration, learners observe the effects of density and pressure. A "diver" constructed out of a piece of straw and Blu-Tack will bob inside a bottle filled with water.

Floating Paper Clip
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In this activity, challenge learners to float a paper clip in a cup of water. Learners discover that a paper clip will sink in a cup of water, except when it is placed on a piece of paper towel.

Descartes' Diver
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In this activity, learners explore how changes in fluid pressure affect the buoyancy of a Cartesian diver inside a plastic soda bottle.

Exploring the Ocean with Robots
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In this activity, learners are introduced to robotic submarines called gliders. Learners make “gliders” from plastic syringes and compare these to Cartesian bottles and plastic bubbles.

Sink or Float
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In this activity, learners explore and compare the buoyant properties of materials found in nature and in human-made materials.

Weighty Questions
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In this activity about humans and space travel (page 1 of PDF), learners compare and contrast the behavior of a water-filled plastic bag, both outside and inside of a container of water.

Uplifting Force: Buoyancy & Density
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In this investigation, learners explore the force known as buoyancy by placing various objects into water and observing how they behave (for example, which sink more quickly, which float, how much wat

Dancing Raisins
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In this activity, learners will explore density and it's relationship with mass.

Prepare for a Dock Shop Field Trip
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In this activity, learners explore what makes a boat float and sink. They examine and test various objects to determine why objects float or sink.

Design a Submarine
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Learners act as engineers and design mini submarines that move in the water like real submarines.

Floating Head Cup
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In this activity, learners watch a figure "magically" float up through the air.

Inverted Bottles
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In this activity, learners investigate convection by using food coloring and water of different temperatures.

Cartesian Diver
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In this quick activity (page 1 of the PDF under SciGirls Activity: California Fish), learners will build a simple Cartesian Diver in an empty 2-liter bottle.

Boats Afloat
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In this activity, learners discover what buoyancy is and determine the characteristics that make an object buoyant. Learners design, build, test, and evaluate boats made from a variety of materials.

Milk Carton Boats
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This activity (on page 2 of the PDF SciGirls Activity: Milk Carton Boat) is a full inquiry investigation into boat hull design.

Flinker
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In this activity, learners make a foam packing peanut "flink"--neither float away nor sink--in water. Learners experiment with materials to make a Flinker that "flinks" for 10 seconds.