What supplies would best support prekindergarten children investigating the concepts of sinking and floating?

Supporting prekindergarten children in investigating the concepts of sinking and floating involves providing them with hands-on materials that allow them to explore and experiment. Choosing classroom objects made of different materials is ideal because it enables children to compare and contrast the properties of various items. They can test how different materials—such as wood, metal, plastic, and fabric—behave in water, facilitating a deeper understanding of buoyancy and density.

Using a diverse range of objects encourages inquiry-based learning, where children can hypothesize about which items will sink or float, conduct experiments, and observe the outcomes. This exploration not only aligns with their natural curiosity but also supports cognitive development through science inquiry skills.

While the other options may offer valuable learning experiences, they do not align as directly with the specific goal of investigating sinking and floating. Building blocks may lack the variation in buoyancy needed for the experiment. Different-sized bottles with liquids might introduce concepts of volume but would not specifically address the sinking and floating concept. Fish tanks, although useful, may not provide the variety of materials needed to fully explore the concept. Therefore, using classroom objects made of different materials is the most effective choice to promote active investigation of sinking and floating.