Density Lesson Plan for Elementary Kids {and Freebie!}
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Are you curious about how to teach density? These density lesson plan ideas are perfect for elementary aged students to introduce the topic. They include short hands-on STEM activities and printables.
As you go through your lesson, keep in mind that the concept of density can be confusing for youngsters. Try to use language that they will understand, and be sure to use plenty of examples.
Tips for Teaching Density
Before you complete a fun density experiment with your elementary kids, you may be wondering about a few tips to help you truly teach what density is!
Teach About Density With Examples
Use examples to help explain the concept of density. This can be helpful because kids often think that heavier objects are denser. You might say, “Even though this rock is small, it is very dense. It weighs a lot for its size.”
Make it Hands-On
Hands-on activities are key when teaching science to younger kids. They help make the concepts more concrete. As you go through the activities below, encourage your students to touch, feel, and manipulate the materials.
Focus on the Key Vocabulary
There are three key vocabulary words associated with density: mass, volume, and weight. Be sure to focus on these words and what they mean. You might want to write them on a board or chart paper and refer to them often.
Density Books for Kids
Books are a great way to introduce topics, learn new vocabulary, and get kids interested in what you are going to learn about.
What Floats? What Sinks? A Look at Density could be read to your kids before beginning the following activities, and again afterwards during discussions.
Floating and Sinking is another great option. You can purchase both of these on Amazon, or see if your local library carries them.
Density Science Activities Free Printable
If you’re going to teach a density lesson plan for elementary kids, then you’re going to need a set of really good density science activities.
My Density Science Activities printable is perfect for planning the best day with your elementary students! It includes two of our favorite density activities that are also hands on.
This printable includes pages to help you perform the “Sink or Swim” experiment, learn about different layers of density with a density jar, and cards to use during your activities.
Sink or Swim
With this Sink or Swim game, you will pour various liquids of different densities into a clear container. I suggest using water, vegetable oil, corn syrup or maple syrup, and soda.
You’ll also need a few different objects of different weights and sizes to test. You could grab a coin, a screw, a key, a piece of sponge, a bottle lid, a grape, cherry tomato, or any other small item.
Allow your kids to use the printable page to predict what will sink or swim on the different liquids. They’ll then place the items on top of each liquid to see which items float on the surface of the water, or sink to the bottom.
Discuss the results with your kids, and see if they have any more items they want to test out!
Layers of Density
Understanding the layers of density isn’t always easy. With this activity, you are going to use three liquids of varying densities: water, oil, and syrup. You’ll soon find out which liquid sinks to the bottom of the cup or jar, and which liquid floats.
You can use the printable pages to record observations from this experiment. The second stage involves dropping small items into the “density tower” to see where they settle.
Here’s a quick video from Steve Spangler Science that shows how this density column should work; they use 9 different liquids (and a few drops of food coloring), so if you have these on hand, feel free to give it a try!
If you’d like a copy of my free printable to use during your experiment, click below to download it from my shop.
Other Activities for Your Density Lesson Plan
If your kids love fun science experiments, here are a few other activities involving density that would be simple additions to your lesson.
Your kids will feel like they’ve learned a new magic trick! Make sure to try this liquid density experiment with and without salt water to see the results.
Here’s a fun way to explore density by creating a sensory bottle using crayons and creative, different materials.
Count us in when food is involved! You’ll enjoy learning about the property of salt water with this experiment.
Floating Egg Science Experiment
Similar to the density of grapes activity, this is an idea you could try to captivate your kids with before breakfast. Enjoy cooking and eating the eggs afterwards!
Clay Boat Kid’s Science Experiment
My kids love playing with clay. This experiment allows them to explore how the shape of an object and how much space it takes up can affect it’s ability to float, even though density does not change.
Oranges with their peels, or peeled oranges? Ask your kids to make predictions – they might be surprised! This is also a great activity to use to introduce the concept of buoyancy.
Help your kids create a lava lamp using some materials you most likely have on hand. The density of oil and water (plus an antacid tablet) will create a mesmerizing effect!
Enjoy Learning About Density
I hope this helps give you some ideas to add to your density lesson plan for your homeschool, and some of our favorite density activities to try!
Don’t forget to grab my free printable above. You might also enjoy using my Scientific Method Template with any of the above simple science experiments.
What are some of your favorite activities to use in teaching density? Drop a comment below!
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