Lesson Plan: Denser Than You Think: Understanding Density

⁣Lesson Plan: Denser Than You Think: Understanding Density

Grade Level: 6-8

Subject: Science

Duration: 60 minutes

Common Core Standards:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.7: Integrate information presented in different media or formats as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.3: Follow precisely a multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks.
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.G.A.2: Find the volume of a right rectangular prism with fractional edge lengths by packing it with unit cubes of the appropriate unit fraction edge lengths, and show that the volume is the same as would be found by multiplying the edge lengths of the prism. Apply the formulas V = l w h and V = b h to find volumes of right rectangular prisms with fractional edge lengths in the context of solving real-world and mathematical problems.

Objective:
Students will understand the concept of density and be able to calculate density using the formula: density = mass/volume. Moreover, they will explore the concept of density through hands-on experiments and analyze the density of various objects.

Materials:
- Various objects of different materials (e.g., wood, plastic, metal, rubber, etc.)
- Triple beam balance or electronic scale
- Graduated cylinder
- Water
- Unit cubes or rulers
- Worksheet with guided questions and calculations

Procedure:
1. Introduction (10 minutes):
- Display the SEO title on the board: "Denser Than You Think: Understanding Density."
- Engage students in a brief discussion about what they think density means and its importance in science.

2. Explanation and Demonstration (10 minutes):
- Introduce the concept of density, explaining that it is a measure of how much mass is contained in a given volume.
- Demonstrate the calculation of density using the formula: density = mass/volume.
- Show examples of different objects with the same volume but different densities.

3. Hands-On Experiment (20 minutes):
- Divide students into small groups.
- Provide each group with a set of different objects and a graduated cylinder filled with water.
- Instruct students to measure the mass and volume of each object and calculate their densities.
- Encourage students to record their observations and calculations on the worksheet.

4. Group Discussion (10 minutes):
- Facilitate a class discussion to share and compare the results of the experiments.
- Ask students questions such as:
- Were there any surprises in your findings?
- Why do you think some objects float while others sink in water?
- How does the density of an object affect its buoyancy?

5. Real-World Application (10 minutes):
- Discuss real-world examples where understanding density is important (e.g., building ships, oil spills, hot air balloons).
- Connect the concept of density to practical applications in various fields.

6. Conclusion (5 minutes):
- Summarize the main points discussed during the lesson.
- Ask students to reflect on the importance of understanding density in everyday life.

Common Core Labels Correlations:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.7
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.3
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.G.A.2



Simple density science experiment that you can try at home to see how liquids and objects with different densities behave. Using three fluids (syrup, water and oil) we can see they clearly have different densities, and form clear layers. By dropping items with different densities into the glass, we can see which fluids are denser than them.Other Videos:Coin Battery - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIHfUJu3aKoCold Drink - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6ncuv3gewICandle Seesaw - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgwkF2fbqBEBalloon Experiment -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glQ2NrnDHWcMusic: Olde Timey - Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)