This natural science lesson introduces students to the principles of salt water and how it determines the buoyancy of people and objects. Using a colorful story and beautiful illustrations, students are provided with scientific information and then encouraged to solve problems using scientific exploration.

"Setting the Stage" - Before starting the program, ask the students: Have you ever been swimming in a pool or the ocean? Do you know how to float? Have you ever seen something floating in water; maybe in your bathtub?

"Introduction to Buoyancy"
Students take an imaginary trip to the Dead Sea in Israel to explore the principles of buoyancy. A map is presented on the Learning Station, but the teacher may want to elaborate on the location in relation to the class by providing a globe or world map.

"Airplane Trip"
As the narration on the Learning Station instructs students to get ready for takeoff for their 'flight', encourage students to pretend to fasten their seatbelts. This will encourage their focus and imagination.

"In-flight Movie"
While on the airplane trip to Israel, students are shown a brief in-flight movie that describes the location of the Dead Sea and how it is unique in its salt content. Students are then asked to talk about why they would want to go to the Dead Sea.

"Floating In the Dead Sea"
Touch-screen activity - Icons shown on the Learning Station represent choices students must make to decide why the boy in the story is able to float easily. This activity will encourage students to think about why floatation is possible.

"The Dead Sea"
A cartoon character of an island child introduces the saltiness of the ocean and how life exists in that environment. This is an important distinction to make - that the salt content of the ocean is different than that of the Dead Sea, where nothing is able to live. The character asks the students to explain why they think this is possible. Encourage a variety of answers before moving on to the following explanation.

"Examining the Dead Sea"
This part of the lesson provides students with the scientific information that the Dead Sea contains seven times the salt content of the ocean. Glasses of water are shown on the Learning Station to illustrate this as salt is added by spoonfuls. Optional - Students will recreate this during an experiment later in the lesson. The teacher may want to perform this part of the experiment during this narration by using the tool bar to stop and start the lesson, or wait until the experiment after the story. If so, encourage the students to examine the water and compare its appearance and, if the teacher chooses, compare its taste.

"Density"
This new vocabulary word is introduced as the narration further describes the Dead Sea.

"The Sea Turtle"
This part of the lesson presents a wonderful story about a sea turtle that loses an egg in a crevice on the beach, and how the island children help her retrieve it by using their problem-solving skills and science. There are a number of 'thinking questions' presented throughout the story to encourage the children to help solve the problem. The dilemma in the story is solved as the children add large quantities of salt to the water to cause the egg to rise to the top due to the buoyancy. Students are reminded that the children used science to solve the problem.

"Do Your Own"
Hands-on experiment - Students now have the opportunity to recreate the action in the story by performing an experiment. First the experiment is demonstrated, then the students are instructed to recreate what they just observed.
Supplies needed (described in narration):
2 clear glasses of fresh water
a box of regular table salt
2 eggs (not hard-boiled)
spoons
The teacher can determine how many examples of the experiment to perform. You may want to separate the class into teams. The narration describes the sequence of the experiment. Remind children that the experiment will not work if the eggs are broken.
Videotaping activity - The teacher can decide how this is best accomplished. You may want to videotape students as a scientific research team performing the experiment, or ask them to report their findings upon completion.

"Questions About Buoyancy"
Touch screen activity - the concept of buoyancy is again presented as students choose the correct icon indicating why and how the boy is able to float. Students must apply newly acquired knowledge to answer correctly.

"Before You Go Home"
Hands-on activity - Children are given handouts of the experiment to complete and then take home to their family to explain. Encourage the students to creatively decorate their eggs. The students must listen carefully to the narration, as instructions are given to color the water in the correct glass to indicate the salty one. (the egg is floating at the top while the other sits at the bottom as in the experiment). Encourage the students to talk about why they chose which glass to color. Also encourage the students to take the picture home and describe the experiment as it was performed.

Before Students Go Home - Review
What does 'buoyancy' mean?
What does 'density' mean?
Where is the Dead Sea and what makes it unique?
Talk about how science was used to solve a problem for the mother turtle.

Supply List for Activities
"Today I Learned" - parents handout
(optional) globe or map to show Dead Sea & Middle East
water, 2 clear glasses and 2 fresh eggs (2 per experiment), table salt
handouts provided on disk (glasses of water and eggs)
markers or crayons
videotape