This station activity is designed to allow students to explore density and its applications. Density is a concept students need to understand across all the sciences, so this is a great topic to cover at the beginning of the year.

Students should already have a basic understanding of what density is and how to calculate it prior to this activity- it is used as reinforcement.

Station activities included:

Station 1: Students will complete density practice problems using the formula.

Station 2: Students will analyze the density of Earth's layers.

Station 3: Students will watch a video clip on how submarines work. A laptop with YouTube access will need to be provided.

Station 4: Students will read an article about Archimedes and how he used density and displacement to figure out if the King's crown was pure gold.

Station 5: Students will create a density column within a straw using different saltwater solutions. You will need: 4 beakers, water, food coloring, salt, and a clear straw.

Station 6: Students will analyze an image of a density column and draw conclusions about where solid objects dropped within the tower would settle.

Station 7: Students will watch a video clip about density of gases. A laptop with YouTube access will need to be provided.

Station 8: Students will read about the Dead Sea and its density compared to ocean water.

Station 9: Students will read about oil spills and draw conclusions about its impact on marine life.

Station 10: Students will explain how hot air balloons work based on density of hot and cool air.