How Do Sharks Float STEM Activity Free Shark Unit Study & Notebooking Pages

I have a shark unit study, an easy shark STEM activity, and free shark notebooking pages. Also, grab more ideas on my best homeschool unit studies, Oceans Unit Study and Lapbook, and Coral Reef pages.

A shark unit study is a fun way to learn about these creatures of the deep even if you don’t live near the ocean, I would prefer not to study them up close anyway.

We can get up close and personal through videos, hands-on activities, fun facts, and fantastic books.

Did you know that, unlike many other bony fishes, sharks do not have a swim bladder that gives them buoyancy?

To help overcome their tendency to sink there are large amounts of oil in their liver that is less dense than seawater.

 Also, sharks are made of cartilage rather than bone which is considerably lighter.

To demonstrate why that helps sharks float we are going to create a couple of sharks and perform a fun STEM Experiment.

First, look at some facts for your shark unit study.

Shark Unit Study Shark Facts

• There are over 500 species of sharks.
• Shark skin feels very similar to sandpaper.
• The fastest shark is the Shortfin Mako Shark, clocked at 31mph with short bursts of speed up to 46 mph.
• The largest shark is the Whale shark while the smallest is the Dwarf Lantern Shark.
• Prehistoric sharks were called Megalodons.
• Sharks are found in almost every ocean habitat from coral reefs to the arctic sea.
• Sharks do not sleep as humans do, but instead, they have active and restful periods.

What are Sharks

Sharks are the ocean’s ultimate predators. Some sharks live in the cold polar waters and others prefer the warm tropical seas.

And a shark is a fish because it swims with fins and has gills.

However, it is a cartilaginous fish and not a bony fish.

Shark Food

Additionally, sharks vary in their diet and in the way they hunt prey.

For example, the tiger shark is famous for eating, anything even license plates.

And the white-tipped shark stays in deep water and is famous because it ate shipwrecked sailors during World War II.

In addition, sharks have larger brains than other fish and can have advanced hunting techniques.

Too, many sharks rely on camouflage and being able to sneak up on their prey.

Moreover, others are filter eaters. They swim with their mouth open, suck in water, and filter the food from the water.

Their meal consists of tiny animals and plants called “plankton” floating in the water.

Also, here are some shark vocabulary words.

• pup – baby shark
• dorsal fin – a fin on the back of a fish.
• caudal fin – the tail fin.
• pectoral fin – paired fins toward the front of the shark
• cartilage – tough connective tissue which is not bone
• marine biologist – a scientist who studies marine (ocean) organisms
• cartilaginous fish – skeletons are made of cartilage like sharks, rays, and eels

Next, unit studies are best remembered by doing hands-on activities.

Shark Unit Study Hands-On Activities

• I just love this fun Newspaper Shark Craft.
• Play the Jawsome Shark Rescue Game to get everyone up and moving.
• Digging For Shark Tooth Fossils Sensory Bin is a fun way to explore the senses.
• DIY Sharknado – Science Fun For Kids Turn a serious topic into something a little silly.
• Every unit study needs a couple of good snacks like these Shark Fin Cupcakes
• Make the Shark Slime Recipe, it’s perfect to add to plastic sharks for hands-on fun.
• Toddlers through Kindergarteners will love the Feed The Shark Alphabet Game

Too, I have some fun free shark notebooking pages.

So, look at the title of these 4 notebooking pages.

1. Sharks – What Are Sharks and About Shark Senses
2. What Do Sharks Eat
3. Shortfin Mako and White-Tipped Sharks
4. Great White Shark and Tiger Shark

In addition, here are more homeschool unit studies.

More Best Homeschool Unit Studies

• Free Homeschool Chicken Unit Study and Anatomy of an Egg Felt Activity & Worksheet
• How to Incorporate Subjects into a Fun Homeschool Cooking Unit Study
• Volcano Unit Study and Fun Apple Volcano
• Solar System Unit Study and Hands-on Planets Activity
• Charlotte’s Web Homeschool Unit Study and Fun Hands-on Ideas
• Homeschool Unit Study Ideas | Lewis and Clark Exploration Lapbook
• Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities
• Little House on The Prairie Unit Study and Fun Punched Tin Lantern

MORE SHARK ACTIVITIES

Finally, look at this fun sharks float STEM a;ctivity.

Shark Unit Study – How Do Sharks Float STEM Activity

You will need:

• 2 water bottles.
• Craft foam
• Sharpies
• Vegetable oil
• Water
• A large container.

Fill two water bottles with the exact same amount of liquid – one with water and one with vegetable oil.

Decorate the bottles if you’d like to make them look more like sharks.

Use craft foam to make teeth and fins and then you can draw the details like eyes with a permanent marker.

Use hot glue for a quick secure drying adhesive but apply it to the foam rather than the plastic bottle and avoid touching with the metal nozzle.

Once everything has dried on your “shark“ you’re ready to test them out in the water.

A large storage tote is perfect for this experiment, fill it halfway full of water and drop in your sharks.

Now it’s time for observation and determining the results. What did you notice? 

While the one with water stays somewhat afloat it is more weighted, the oil field shark floats much more effortlessly.

Pop in some plastic sharks and turn your tub of water into a fun sensory play activity as well.