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Will it Float? Simple Graphing for Preschoolers

October 29, 2010 by notjustcute Filed Under: Learning through Play and Experience, Uncategorized 7 Comments

I really do love graphing with preschoolers.  It makes math concepts like numeracy, 1-to-1 ratio (counting one number for one item), comparing numbers, and sorting objects very visual and hands-on.  Graphing does not have to be complicated.  We’re not talking parabolas here, just simple T charts will do.

Just recently I did a sink or float activity (because no matter how many times we do it, my boys still think that 20 pound pumpkins will sink) and I used the back of the door for our graph.  Just a door and some painter’s tape.  Voila!  A graph! 

Here’s how I organized the activity:

After gathering all the items we would use for our investigation, I drew a quick sketch of each item on an index card.  Before the activity, we talked about each item and made hypotheses as to which would sink or float.

I made a quick T chart with painter’s tape on the back of the door, and labeled each side.  You could easily use the same technique on the wall, the floor, or a table top. 

Next the children took turns pulling a card, finding the corresponding item and tossing it into the bathtub.  (Yes, bathtub.  Where else are you going to float a 20 pound pumpkin?)  After each item we then placed the card on our graph.

Afterward we looked over the graph, counted, made comparisons, and talked about what the floating items had in common.  It was a quick, easy, and fun way to explore science and math together!

How do you use graphing with young children?
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Comments

  1. 1

    Jenny says

    October 29, 2010 at 3:13 am

    This reminds me that we haven’t done graphing at preschool for – oh, a year or so. I remember we graphed our favorite foods, and also the foods we had in our lunch boxes. Thanks for sharing this.

    Reply
  2. 2

    Kristin @ Preschool Universe says

    July 25, 2011 at 6:50 pm

    This is a great use of graphing – a math and science in one! Linking here from my post on graphing with preschoolers at Preschool Universe.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Tweets that mention Will it Float? Simple Graphing for Preschoolers « Not Just Cute -- Topsy.com says:
    October 29, 2010 at 6:16 pm

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Early Childhood, Pamela Lloyd and Heather, Amanda Morgan. Amanda Morgan said: Will it Float? Simple Graphing with Preschoolers: http://wp.me/peHoh-Za […]

    Reply
  2. Five graphing tips you can use with preschoolers says:
    March 27, 2011 at 1:53 pm

    […] Sink or float graph from Not Just Cute […]

    Reply
  3. Preschool Graphing Activities says:
    July 25, 2011 at 11:05 pm

    […] You could perform a sink or float experiment and graph your results like shown here at Not Just Cute. […]

    Reply
  4. Over 20 Graphing and Measuring Activities says:
    July 12, 2014 at 10:47 pm

    […] Sink or Float Graph from Not Just Cute […]

    Reply
  5. CREATING CHARTS WITH TODDLERS & PRESCHOOLERS – Connected Kids Create says:
    March 25, 2016 at 10:01 am

    […] Will it Float? We love this science experiment! […]

    Reply

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I’m Amanda Morgan. Here’s what I’m about…

In early education, there is too much distance between what we know and what we do. I bridge the gaps that exist between academia, decision-makers, educators, and parents so that together, we can improve the quality of early education while also respecting and protecting the childhood experience.

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