Who Sank the Boat?-Ounces and Grams

A lesson plan to teach concept of measurement using grams and ounces through a student-created experiment.  The student creates an aluminum foil boat to sail, and predicts how many ounces and grams it will take to sink their ship using marbles and/or paperclips. This information is then charted into a  graph to find a correlation between ounces and grams. This lesson provides students with an interactive way to learn about weight and buoyancy. Who Sank the Boat? is also a tradebook by Pamela Allen that can or cannot be used with this lesson.

Weblink address (URL): 
Who Sank the Boat?-Ounces and Grams

Standards & Objectives

Learning objectives: 
  • Students will make predictions using the tradebook, Who Sank the Boat? by Pamela Allen. Also, students will create a buoyancy experiment and explore measurement through scientific observations. Last, students will explore measurement (grams, liters, inches, meters, etc.) through math discoveries.

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Understanding

Helpful Hints

Materials and Resources:

  • The book, Who Sank the Boat? by Pamela Allen
  • mouse finger puppet
  • 1-ounce hex weight
  • 5 sailboats with sails
  • small tub 
  • tinfoil
  • rulers
  • scale
  • paper clips

References

Contributors: 
Katie Sumner
Originator: 
Ayers Institute for Learning & Innovation