Grams/Volume=Density=STEM

While studying surface water, sixth graders learned that ice is less dense than water.   In an effort to understand exactly what this means, students completed a STEM activity where they determined the density of 12 materials ranging from different types of plastics, to wood and metals.

The Science and Math part of the activity was completed when students used balance scales and measuring tapes to find both the mass and volume of the objects. To determine density, they used math skills to complete the algorithm M/V=D.

In the Technology piece, students used Microsoft excel to complete a bar graph to display the differences in densities found and wrote statements of analysis.

Engineering uses the properties of materials to determine uses for the material.  Students were able to see that out of all the metals tested, (steel, copper, brass and aluminum,) aluminum had a density of 2.72 compared to the other metals with densities above 7.0.  This is why aluminum is used in making airplanes. 

Ice is one of the few solids that is actually less dense than the liquid form of the same substance.  The formation of ice on the surface of a lake or pond helps protect the organisms that live in the water from extreme winter temperatures.  Maybe God understands density better than the rest of us!