Week Four: Science Inquiry

Grade 2, Cluster 2: Properties of Solids, Liquids, and Gases
SLO: 2-2-17

Question:

If I put a quarter in water, will it sink? What if I make the surface area larger, will that help the quarter float?

1. Assemble Supplies:
    -1 clear container
    -1 quarter
    -1 roll of masking tape
    -water
2. Put water into container
Predict what will happen when you put the quarter in the water.
    -I predict the quarter will sink.
3. Put quarter into container
    -quarter sinks
4. Record result
5. Tape the coin to make the surface area larger, predict what the modified quarter will do.
     -I predict it will float.
6. Place the coin in water.
    -coin sinks
7. Record result
Conclusion: The surface area of a coin does not change its ability to sink or float if the surface area is changed.

 

As the pictures show, the inquiry can be very simple. Students can test as few or as many objects as they like, modifying the objects to see if the object still floats or sinks when modified. This shows that the surface area of the coin changing does not affect the ability if the coin to sink or float.

In a classroom doing guided inquiry, one could ask students what objects they think float and which ones they think will sink. Students then should compile a list of classroom objects they want to test. In groups of 3-4, students can start to answer their questions. Guide students to questions about changing the surface area of objects to see if they sink or float when modified. Students should record this information in a manner that is appropriate for their age and learning level. Some grade 2 students will need visuals to help them identify objects, while others will be perfectly fine naming objects alone. If possible, make the groups balanced. Do not worry about spelling. Instead, focus on the students understanding of what they are doing and see if their prediction changes as they perform more experiments.

Note that the inquiry I conducted is step-by-step. If doing it in a classroom, the students would not have instructions that specific. Making predictions and other steps are learning outcomes that would be practiced in the class before sending students off to do a science inquiry.