Unit 1: Directions for “Why Does Ice Float” Activity
Materials
Per Group of Four Participants:
Two 250 ml. beakers (or two clear, nine oz. cups)
Two ice cubes
One 150 ml. beaker of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
One 150 ml. beaker of water
A Whiteboard and whiteboard markers
Preparation
Gather and prepare supplies:
 Label first beaker or cup as “#1.” Pour approximately 150 ml. of
water into the beaker or cup.

Label the second beaker or cup as “#2.” Pour approximately
150 ml. of isopropyl alcohol into the beaker or cup.

Gather enough ice cubes (about the same size and shape) for
all groups. Keep the ice cubes in a cooler until time to use
them.

After groups have completed their observations for beaker or
cup #1 and #2, give each group two ice cubes, one for each
beaker or cup.
Procedure
1. Distribute the two liquids (cup #1 and cup #2) to participant
groups. Ask participants in each group to make individual
observations of the liquids and record their ideas on a piece of
paper.
2. Ask participants to share their observations with each other
within their groups and then to share ideas all the groups.
3. Place an ice cube into each cup for each group of participants.
4. Ask participants to individually observe the two cups.
5. Rejoin the podcast at slide nine in which the participant groups
will draw a single picture as a group and write an explanation
about what is they think is occurring in each cup.