This web page is designed for teachers looking for science ideas to incorporate into an integrated unit on Rome. The following lesson plan is based on an experiment that was originally done by a Greek philosopher, Archimedes. The concept being developed is that weight, and volume can cause water to be displaced.
Click here for the story of Archimedes (water)
Rationale: The following lesson plan develops the concept that weight, and volume can cause water to be displaced. The practical application of this activity is that it makes it possible to solve the problem of what type of material an object is made of based on how much it weighs, and its size.
Materials: * a string * a fist-sized stone * a spring scale * a bucket of water
* aluminium foil * tin can
Introduction:
Students will listen to the story of Archimedes as it is read aloud by the teacher.
Development:
Students will perform the following experiments in pairs, keeping a record of their findings to be handed in.
EXPERIMENT #1
1. Weigh the stone outside the water, then tie a string around the stone and weigh it in the bucket of water; record these weights.
2. Calculate the difference in weights. Formulate a hypothesis as to why there is a difference in weights, and write this down.
EXPERIMENT #2
1. Shape a sheet of aluminium foil into a boat, and float it in water. Now wad the aluminium up and drop it in water. Describe what happened and hypothesise why.
Conclusion:
Students will gather in groups of 3-4, and discuss their hypotheses, experiments, and conclusions, and report the highlights of their discussion to the rest of the class in a final group conversation.
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