Pine Cone Inquiry

During our scientific observations about the buoyancy of certain objects in water, we discovered that the little pine cone floated. We presented a bigger pine cone to the children and noticed that it did not float. The children concluded that the little pine cone floated because it was lighter and the biggest one sank because it was heavier. We asked the children "How could make the big pine cone float?"

Giuliana thought it would float "by using something that is light to keep the pine cone floating."

Ava said "a boat".

Roberto mentioned that a rubber ducky would help the pine cone float. We did not have one but we looked for something made of rubber. Roberto found his rubber boots. First, he put one of his boots in the water to see if it would float. Roberto concluded that his boot was too heavy. He tried Rose's boot which was smaller however, it was still too heavy.

Evallie had a balloon in her hands. After talking about the observations made during the activity on buoyancy (hollow object contain air inside), we decided to put air in the balloon. We attached the pine cone on the balloon.  It floated but because of the shape of the balloon (round), the pine cone rolled to the bottom.

Roberto said: "Let's add water!" By adding water to the container, the children were able to observe that the big pine cone started to float. Kaitlyn observed that "it makes it lighter (pine cone) so it floats.


I explained that their was more water, so more force to push the pine cone up.

We shared those observations with our other friends during our large groupe gathering.


Giuliana had made a long boat using cardboard and masking tape. She said that not letting the water go in her boat would keep the boat floating and allow the big pine cone to float.

I helped the children understand, that because the boat was long there was more surface for the water to push up the boat. The big pine cone floated with the help of her boat.

Finally, I had the children observe what happens when the boat is made shorter by cutting it, consequently providing less surface for the water to push up the boat. We placed the big pine cone on the shorter boat and the pine cone sank.