Will My Boat Float?

Materials Needed:

Large dishpan or water table
Water
Plastic boats
Items of different weights

What to Do:

Using a large dishpan or water table with water in it, float plastic boats.
Slowly have children put items of different weights into boats and see which boats will float and which will sink.
Have the children guess how many items they think the boat will hold without sinking.

* Miss Mary's helpful hint: You may want to add to this activity by demonstrating the difference between stacking items high in the boat versus spreading out the load.