The last two days have been so hot in the UK that we've had the paddling pool outside, so it seemed like the perfect time to try something Water-based research.
For each mini investigation, I asked the children a question and then we discussed what we thought would happen and why.
I also have many non-paddling pools. experiments with water You can try it!
Five things to look for in your kiddie pool
Will the sun heat the water?
My five-year-old daughter thought the sun would warm the water if we left her in the kiddie pool during the hottest part of the day. We didn't use a thermometer because I didn't have one handy, but in retrospect it would have been a good idea.
We found that the water was much warmer if the kiddie pool was filled in the morning and left for a few hours in the sun rather than filling and using it immediately.
Can you make a boat move?
We used a small plastic boat. Z tried to move it by blowing at first, which worked fine, but he found he could make it move much faster by putting the hose behind it. We had a lot of fun racing the boat around the pool.
Another idea is to make and test your own Boats made from recycled materials.
Will the water level rise if we all sit in the pool?
We decided that the water level would rise, but the kids couldn't tell me why. So we tried it and the water did rise a little. Do you know why?
It all comes down to the Archimedes' principle!
Will a heavy ball float?
Everyone thought the heavy ball would sink, but it floated!
If you find a ball that sinks, try covering it with bubble wrap. It should now float, as adding bubble wrap makes it less dense.
Objects need to be Less dense than water so it floats..
More science in the children's pool
Try to do boats with aluminum foil and figure out how many coins you can put in before they sink.
Mix sand with a little water in a small pot or tray and leave it in the sun while you splash around. The water will evaporate and only the sand will remain.
Freeze a little Plastic fish in ice cubes Rope up and practice fishing in the children's pool!
Make a small toy figure float
Use materials you have at home to make a Small floating toy figure!
Can you think of any other science for the children's pool?
Last updated on June 28, 2023 by Emma Vanstone
