Goals:

The students will examine the completed experiment and form a hypothesis about the effect of salinity on buoyancy.

The students will work effectively with group members to form a hypothesis, record data, and observe the different conditions during this experiment.

Materials:

wide-mouthed canning jar (1 gallon)

small bottle with lid

2 cups table salt

measuring cup (1 cup)

large spoon

various objects of different densities (feather, penny, empty bottle, full bottle, etc.)

stopwatches

Time:

This lesson will take approximately 2 hours

Procedure:

1.  Divide the students into groups of 4-5 people.

2.  Give each group one of each of the supplies listed above.

3.  Each group should fill the jar three-quarters full of water.

4.  Have each group place the closed small bottle in the water. It should float on the surface.

5.  Have each group remove the small bottle from water.

6.  Have each group add a small amount of water to the small bottle.

7.  Each group should place the small bottle in the water and carefully record their results.

8.  Remove the small bottle and add 1/2 cup of salt to the water.

9.  Put small bottle back into water and record results.

10.  Allow the groups to experiment on their own with the salt and continue recording their results.

11.  Ask each group to form some conclusions as to why they received the results they did.

12.  Ask students to also form conclusions as to how and why this information is important when discussing
the sinking of the Titanic.

13.  Have an open class discussion pooling the results of each of the groups. Possibly have each group present a
visual representation of their results to the class.

Assessment:

The students will be assessed on the records they keep throughout the experiment. This will be assessed by the teacher. Criteria for success: The students must fully document their results 85% of the time.

The students will fill out a peer evaluation rubric on both themselves and their fellow group members.

Curricular Strands and Major Concepts:

Science - exploring the different effects of salt on buoyancy.

Language Arts - problem solving and hypothesis building.

The Titanic - developed by Kelly Coleman, Nikki Cosgrove, Megan Mills, & Dorothy Weber

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This page submitted by St. Norbert College Ocean Voyagers Program.