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Sink or Float Prediction Sheet: Free Printable Worksheet for Reception
- ForReception
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Sink or Float Prediction Sheet is a free printable worksheet for Reception (ages 4 to 5). Children guess whether an object will sink or float, test it in water, then write what really happened. It takes about 15 minutes, needs a shallow bowl, a towel and a pencil, and page 2 gives the adult notes, help ideas, a stretch idea and answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children meet a table with three columns: Thing, I think and It did. For each thing, they first say what they think will happen and record it. Then they test it in a bowl of water and write what really happened. Comparing the two columns shows when a guess was right and when it was a surprise. An adult stays beside the child throughout.
- Thing
- I think
- It did
Setting up your test station
Choose a spot
Pick a table or a floor area that can get wet. Put a towel underneath the bowl and keep a second towel close for hands and spills.
Use a shallow bowl
A shallow bowl of water is enough. Fill it only part way so water stays in the bowl when objects go in.
Gather the things
Have the objects from the sheet ready before you start. Use items too big to be swallowed, and nothing breakable or sharp.
Keep a pencil handy
Write the prediction first, then test, then write the result. Covering the last column with a hand until after the test helps children stay honest.
Why test sink and float with young children?
Sink and float is a classic first science activity because children can see the result straight away. They touch the object, make a guess, then watch what the water does. There is no waiting and no special equipment. Water play is also something most children already enjoy, so they come to the task keen to try things out.
In the Early Years Foundation Stage, children learn by exploring, talking and noticing. Making a prediction asks them to use what they already know. Testing shows them whether they were right. Writing it down turns a moment of play into a record they can look back on. Being wrong is useful here, because a surprise makes children curious and gets them talking.
Stay with your child the whole time they are near water. Keep the water shallow and dry up spills straight away, as wet floors are slippery. Choose objects too big to be swallowed, and keep very small items away from children under 5. The water is not for drinking.
Fun facts about floating
- Water pushes up on anything that is put into it.
- A guess you make before you test is called a prediction.
- Trapped air can help an object float.
- The shape of an object can change whether it floats.
- Big ships can float, even though they are made of strong, solid materials.
Skills and curriculum link
- Predicting
- Testing
- Recording results
- Observing closely
- Comparing
- Talking about why
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Years Foundation Stage | Understanding the World | The Natural World | Reception |
What children will be able to do
- I can guess if something will sink or float.
- I can test it in water.
- I can record what happened.
Ideas to share while you test
- Guess firstA prediction is a thoughtful guess. Ask your child to say what they think and why before anything touches the water.
- Let go gentlyPlace each object on the surface and let go. Pushing it under the water does not show what it would do by itself.
- Look for cluesChildren can notice what the objects are made of, how they feel and what shape they are. Ask what they spot, but do not tell them the rule.
- A surprise is fineIf a guess turns out wrong, say so happily. Finding out something new is the whole point of testing.
Key words
- SinkTo go down through the water towards the bottom.
- FloatTo stay on top of the water.
- PredictTo make a careful guess about what will happen before you try it.
- TestTo try something out to find out what really happens.
- RecordTo write or draw what you found out so you can remember it.
- MaterialWhat something is made from.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the adult notes and answers.
- Set up a shallow bowl and a towel. Gather the objects and sit beside your child. Never leave a child alone near water.
- Take one thing at a time. Ask your child what they think will happen, then write or tick it in the I think column.
- Place the object gently on the water and watch together. Record what it did in the It did column.
- Check the notes and answers on page 2, then talk about what the floating things have in common. Come back another day to repeat it.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Test one thing at a time and keep the talk simple. Hold the object, say its name, then ask, "Sink or float?" Let your child point to a word to answer. Test only a few things at first, and come back to the rest later.
To stretch confident children
Squash a piece of modelling clay into a ball and test it. Then shape another piece into a wide, shallow boat and test that. Ask your child what changed and why they think it happened. Let them try more shapes.
Make it a game
Put a surprise object from around the home in a bag, one that is too big to swallow. Your child feels it, says sink or float, then you test it together. Score a point for each correct guess. Swap roles.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child sees the result and then changes their prediction to match.
Try thisWrite the prediction before the object touches the water. Cover the It did column until the test is finished.
Watch forA child pushes the object under the water and says it sank.
Try thisPlace it gently on the surface and let go. Watch what it does without any help from a hand.
Watch forA child decides that every big thing will sink, or every small thing will float.
Try thisTest a few different sizes. Ask, "What do you notice?" Let them change their idea when the results show something new.
Talk about it
- Why did you think it would float?
- What happened when you tested it?
- Which thing surprised you most?
- What do the floating things have in common?
- What do the sinking things have in common?
- What else at home could we test?
Take it off the page
Sorting hunt
Collect safe objects from around the house. Make two piles on a tray, one for sink and one for float, based on guesses. Then test each pile with an adult.
Bath time boats
At bath time, with an adult staying close, try floating different clean containers and toys. Ask your child what keeps them on top of the water.
Draw and tell
Ask your child to draw one thing that sank and one that floated. They can say a sentence about each one for an adult to write underneath.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first object and let them lead the guessing. Ten to fifteen minutes is plenty. Stay near the water throughout, and praise their thinking as well as correct guesses.
Teachers
Use it as a small group table activity, a starter for a topic on materials, or a rainy day task. It needs only a bowl, a towel and printing. Listen for children's reasons as they predict.
Home educators
Pair it with bath time play, a trip to a pond or a story about boats. Repeat the sheet with new objects for brothers and sisters, or a few weeks later to see how ideas have grown.
Where this fits in learning
Before this sheet, children explore water, handle everyday objects and begin to talk about what they see and feel. They learn words such as wet, heavy, light and big. Those words help them describe what they notice when they test.
After this, children move on to naming everyday materials and describing their properties in Year 1. They then look at how materials are chosen for different jobs. Predicting, testing and recording are habits that carry into all later science work.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- Why did you think it would float?
- What happened when you tested it?
- What do the floating things have in common?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is the Sink or Float Prediction Sheet for?
It is written for Reception, children aged 4 to 5, in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Younger children can join in with an adult doing the writing. Older children can use it too, especially with the stretch idea on page 2.
- What will children practise?
Children practise predicting, testing and recording. They guess whether an object will sink or float, try it in water, then write what happened. They also practise talking about why, which builds early scientific thinking.
- How long does it take?
It takes about 15 minutes with one or two children and an adult. Setting up the bowl and towel is quick. You can stop after a few objects and come back another day to finish.
- What do I need besides the printout?
You need a pencil, a shallow bowl, a towel and the objects you want to test. Choose objects that are too big to be swallowed. Nothing needs to be bought. Everyday items from around the home work well.
- Is it safe to use with water?
Yes, with an adult beside the child the whole time. Use a shallow bowl, dry up spills straight away and never leave a child alone near water. Keep very small items away from children under 5.
- Is it free, and can I use it in class?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. Teachers can use it as a starter, a table activity, an early finisher task or a rainy day plan. It needs no preparation beyond printing.
- What if my child finds it hard?
Test one thing at a time and talk about what happened. Let your child point to sink or float rather than write. Do a few objects at first and return to the rest later. Page 2 has more help ideas.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.