Mai Lesson

Pumpkin Float Detective

Science · 25 min · Any age · You and your child together

Will a big, heavy pumpkin sink or float? Your child makes a prediction, tests it with a real pumpkin and a tub of water, and discovers that being heavy isn't the whole story. What's inside matters too.

What your child gets out of it

• Predict whether objects will sink or float, then test each prediction
• Explain that floating depends on how heavy something is for its size
• Connect the pumpkin's hollow inside to why it floats

What you need

• Small pumpkin
• Sink, tub or large bowl of water
• Towel
• 4-5 kitchen items to test — Apple, potato, orange, carrot, metal spoon.
• Paper and pencil
• A knife for the grown-up — Only for the optional stage 4.

How it runs

1. The Big Pumpkin Question · 4 min
2. Sink or Float Lineup · 8 min
3. The Pumpkin Splash · 5 min
4. Inside the Pumpkin (optional) · 5 min
5. Detective Report · 3 min