- clear container with water
- balls of various sizes and weights
- chairs (one per child)
- music recorder
- music (or water sounds CD)
MA Standards:
Speaking and Listening/SL.PK.MA.1a: Observe and use appropriate ways of interacting in a group (e.g., taking turns in talking, listening to peers, waiting to speak until another person is finished talking, asking questions and waiting for an answer, gaining the floor in appropriate ways).
Head Start Outcomes:
Social Emotional Development/Self-Regulation: Follows simple rules, routines, and directions.
Language Development/Receptive Language: Attends to language during conversations, songs, stories, or other learning experiences.
PreK Learning Guidelines:
English Language Arts/Language 1: Observe and use appropriate ways of interacting in a group (taking turns in talking; listening to peers; waiting until someone is finished; asking questions and waiting for an answer; gaining the floor in appropriate ways).
English Language Arts/Reading and Literature 12: Listen to, recite, sing, and dramatize a variety of age-appropriate literature.
EEC Infant and Toddler Guidelines
PW50.: The older toddler engages in a variety of physical activities.
Play Together: Sink or Float Musical Chairs
© Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Early Education and Care (Jennifer Waddell photographer). All rights reserved.
STEM Key Concepts: Objects behave differently in water; Some things float; Some things sink
ELA Focus Skills: Follow Directions, Gross Motor Skills, Number Recognition
Educator Prep: Before the activity, set up a circle of chairs with the chairs facing outward. There should be a chair for each child in your group. Place a ball under each chair.
Tell children you are going to play a game with them. Explain that you are going to play some music (or water sounds) as they circle around the chairs. Say, When I stop the music (sounds), you need to find a chair and sit down on it. Then, explain that they are to reach under their chair and hold the ball that is under there. Say, One by one, you will predict whether your ball will float or sink in the water. Then you will go over to the container of water and test your prediction.
- Play music as children walk in a circle around the chairs.
- When the music stops, each child must quickly sit in a chair. (Stop the music suddenly so children have to scramble to get on a chair.)
- Say, Reach under your chair and hold the ball. One by one have children predict and test their prediction. Once all children have had a turn ask them to return the balls under the seat and play another round.
- Encourage children to describe why they think their ball will float or sink.