A big thanks to Phil from the Uk for these suggestions:

Boat Safety: https://www.buyrope.co.uk/boat-safety-resources/

How Ships Work:

https://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-ships-work.html

I love hearing from everyone who uses Family Theme Days! Here are some suggested links I've received via email (Familythemedays@gmail.com)

Thank you so much to Georgia who emailed us some fantastic links for this Theme Day to help students and families understand the science behind how heavy objects stay afloat in water. Here are her suggested links:

Why Do Ships Float? http://www.bolsovercruiseclub.com/cruise-infographics/why-do-ships-float/#.VW2wWGakd4q

Buoyancy: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/pbuoy.html

For answers to some boating questions from kids check here: http://www.boatsafe.com/kids/index.htm

For more boating terms try here: http://www.diy-wood-boat.com/Boating-terms.html

For another boat science activity check here for instructions on how to make steam boat with recycles parts: http://www.sciencetoymaker.org/boat/assemblFoam.html

Websites:

MORE WATER FUN:

For more Science fun try this book: Water and Boats, by Joan Richards, Powerkids Press, 2008 – Part of the Science Factory Series this book offers 12 different water science experiments.

Boats and Bouyancy

WHY DO THINGS FLOAT OR SINK?

Basically, things that float have a lower density than water. If an object has a higher density than water it will sink. Print out my Sink or Float Terminology Worksheet and together as your read through books find the definitions to the terms. If you cannot find the definitions here they are:

Density – how much something of a fixed volume weighs

Buoyancy – the upward force that makes something float

Gravity – a force that causes two objects to pull together

BUOYANCY EXPERIMENT:

Find out what household things are capable of floating by filing a large pail with water (or use a bathtub or sink) and then carefully placing objects on the water. Have your child fill out this Buoyancy Experiment Chart to guess whether the object will float or sink.

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Cutty Sark is a British clipper ship

BOATING TERMS:

Print out my Nautical Directions Worksheet and together as a family fill in the blanks using the correct terminology. I found my information here: http://www.boatsafe.com/kids/terms.htm and here: http://www.sailingahead.com/information/directions.htm

SINKING SHIPS BUOYANCY EXPERIMENT – LEARNING ABOUT CAPACITY:

Find some simple boats to use…a plastic bowl, a Styrofoam plate, tin foil shaped into a boat. You can also use the boats you made as crafts!

Test that the “boats” are seaworthy by placing them in a large pail of water or in a sink or tub filled with water. Next gather a lot of pennies or dimes. Have your child fill in the Sinking Ships Buoyancy Experiment chart to guess how many pennies or dimes it will take to sink the ship.

Does the placement of the coins make a difference? What if the coins were all placed on one side of the boat? Have fun with this experiment.

For another experiment that plays with buoyancy making things sink and float and dance in water try this one: http://www.sciencekidsathome.com/science_experiments/buoyancy.html