Leprechauns love their coins, and my little leprechaun loves collecting pennies. So I set up a St Patrick’s Day sink or float experiment. We love any science that involves playing with water, and we especially love STEM activities for St Patrick’s Day! Explore why things float or sink with this easy to set up sink or float challenge!
Explore Science For St Patrick’s Day
Get ready to add this simple St Patrick’s Day sink or float experiment to your STEM lesson plans this season. If you want to introduce your kiddos to the science of buoyancy, let’s dig in. While you’re at it, make sure to check out these other fun St Patrick’s Day STEM activities.
Our science activities and experiments are designed with you, the parent or teacher, in mind! Easy to set up, quick to do, most activities will take only 15 to 30 minutes to complete and are heaps of fun! Plus, our supplies lists usually contain only free or cheap materials you can source from home!
Experiment with this fun St Patrick’s Day sink or float experiment that will definitely keep the kids engaged. Not only is it an awesome St Patrick’s Day activity idea, it also offers tons of ways to experiment and learn about the science of buoyancy.
Make sure to check out the tips and ideas further below to turn into an easy science experiment where you apply the scientific method.
St Patrick’s Day Sink or Float Challenge
TIP: Check out our original sink or float experiment!
Supplies:
- Mini Black Pot
- LEGO
- Ruler
- Container
- Water
- Pennies
- Paper Towels
Instructions:
STEP 1: Fill up your container with water. Set out the pot, a pile of LEGO, and a bowl of pennies. Add some paper towels!
STEP 2: Place your mini black pot next to the container of water and invite your kids to experiment with a St Patrick’s Day sink or float experiment.
First, does the pot sink or float? Have your kids make a prediction and then test their ideas.
STEP 3: Estimate or predict the number of pennies it will take to sink the pot. Then start dropping the pennies into the pot, counting as you go.
What happens to the water level in the container when you add pennies to the pot?
Turn It Into An Experiment
Apply the scientific method, for changing one variable. Here are a few ideas kids could investigate…
- Does the amount of coins it takes to sink the pot change with different types of coins?
- Compare different items and find out what other items could sink the pot.
- How about we make a different type of pot and see how many pennies it takes to sink it!
I told my son it should be about the same size and gave him a ruler. He built a black LEGO pot. He tested it. He found his answers. He thought about why one worked better than the other. Read more about scientific method for kids.
There were definite difference between the two pots, and he had a blast testing out his theories. Our St Patrick’s Day sink or float experiment is also a great STEM project. He learned some new science concepts, engineered a pot of his own, and did the math! Now take the “sink or float” challenge with your little leprechauns.
What Causes Objects To Sink or Float?
Whether an object sinks or floats depends on its density. Everything is made of molecules. Molecules are tiny particles that are too small to see with the naked eye. Some objects have molecules that are packed closely together. Others have molecules that are packed more loosely. This is density.
Objects with tightly packed molecules are denser and sink. A penny is dense. Objects with more loosely packed molecules are less dense and float. Think of plastic mini pots or LEGO pieces!
More Fun Activities With Pennies
Leprechauns love coins, check out these fun activities you can do with pennies.
- Penny Boat Challenge
- Drops of water on a penny
- Green penny experiment
- Make a penny spinner
- Strong bridge challenge
Check out more awesome St Patrick’s Day STEM ideas…
- Awesome Leprechaun Trap Ideas
- St Patrick’s Day Math Worksheets
- Leprechaun Trap Kits
- St Patrick’s Day Green Slime Recipe
- How To Make Rainbow Slime
- Leprechaun Trap Mini Garden Activity
- St Patrick’s Day Fizzy Pots Activity
Printable St Patrick’s Day STEM Pack
Get ready to catch a Leprechaun, explore fizzy pots, and dig for gold coin oobleck all while exploring simple science and engineering design process with the St Patrick’s Day STEM Pack!
Over 100 pages of easy to use STEM activities that will make your prep and planning time a cinch! Cheap supplies, easy to set up and clean up, and full of hands-on fun!
- 25+ St. Patrick’s Day science activities and STEM projects kids that are easy to set up and fit into the time you have available even if it’s limited!
- Printable leprechaun theme STEM activities that are simple but engaging for home or classroom. Perfect for K-2 and beyond but easily adaptable to many skill levels.
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