Float or Sink

NCERT anchor: NCERT Looking Around Class 1 — Theme: Water Around Us (floating and sinking in water)

• Some things float — they stay on top of water.
• Some things sink — they go down to the bottom of water.
• We can test objects by gently dropping them into water and watching.

1. Float

Level 1 (Verbal): A paper boat stays on top of the water — it floats.

Level 2 (Symbolic): Float = stays up on the water's surface.

Visual: A leaf sitting on top of water in a tub.

2. Sink

Verbal: A stone dropped in water goes straight down — it sinks.

Symbolic: Sink = goes down to the bottom of the water.

Visual: A coin resting at the bottom of a glass of water.

3. Testing objects

Fill a tub with water. Gently drop one object at a time and watch: does it stay up (float) or go down (sink)?

Testing a plastic spoon and a steel spoon

Step 1 — Fill a bowl with water.
Step 2 — Gently place the plastic spoon on the water — it stays on top.
Step 3 — Gently place the steel spoon on the water — it goes down.
Step 4 — Compare: plastic spoon floats; steel spoon sinks.
Answer: plastic spoon floats, steel spoon sinks.

• Does a leaf float or sink on water?
• What happens when you drop a stone into a bucket of water?
• Name one object you think will float.
• Stretch: If a small stone sinks, will a much bigger stone also sink? Why?

Revision tip: Before testing, guess first, then test in water, then check if your guess was right.

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Float or Sink.