Sink Float Detective Worksheet
Story Elements • Mat 1 Cut & Paste Activity
Sink or Float: Characters & Setting
Name:
Date:
Cut out pictures from Page 3 and glue them into the matching boxes below!
Part 1
1
Characters: Who is in the story?
Older Brother Character A
Joey Jenkins
GLUE JOEY PICTURE HERE (Tile from Page 3)
What does Joey do?
Finds objects and tosses them in pool
Sits quietly with feet in water
One word that describes Joey:
Younger Brother Character B
Pete Jenkins
GLUE PETE PICTURE HERE (Tile from Page 3)
What does Pete do?
Predicts sink or float & splashes waves
Runs inside to ask mom for snacks
One word that describes Pete:
2
Setting: Where and when does it happen?
WHERE does the story take place?
GLUE "POOL" PICTURE HERE (Tile from Page 3)
WHEN does the story take place?
GLUE "SUMMER" PICTURE HERE (Tile from Page 3)
Complete the Setting Sentence:
Joey and Pete play by the because it is a very summer day.
Sink or Float • Special Education Story Mat Page 1 of 3 (Go to Page 2 for Plot) ➔
Story Elements • Mat 2 Cut & Paste Activity
Plot Timeline & Experiment
Name:
Cut the Plot Events and Sink / Float badges from Page 3!
Part 2
3
Story Sequence: Beginning, Middle, Ending
1. Beginning
Game Starts
GLUE BEGINNING TILE (Tile #1 from Page 3)
Brothers get hot by pool and Joey invents game.
2. Middle
Testing Objects
GLUE MIDDLE TILE (Tile #2 from Page 3)
Joey tosses key, apple, and acorn into pool.
3. Ending
The Big Splash
GLUE ENDING TILE (Tile #3 from Page 3)
Pete makes a wave with feet to sink airplane!
4
Experiment Board: Sink or Float?
Brass Key Heavy metal
PASTE BADGE: SINK or FLOAT
Fresh Apple From mom
PASTE BADGE: SINK or FLOAT
Oak Acorn From oak tree
PASTE BADGE: SINK or FLOAT
Toy Airplane Pete made wave!
PASTE BADGE: SINK or FLOAT
5
Story Climax: Fair or Cheating?
Joey shouted: "No fair! That's cheating!" Did Pete play fairly when he made the wave?
Yes, it was smart thinking! No, he cheated to make it sink!
Explain why in your own words:
Sink or Float • Special Education Story Mat Page 2 of 3 (See Page 3 for Cutouts) ➔
Cutout Sheet Do Not Write Here • Cut Along Dotted Lines
Picture Tiles: Cut & Paste Bank
Cut Carefully!
Part 1: Tiles for Page 1 (Characters & Setting) 4 picture tiles
Joey Jenkins Older Brother
Finds items to throw in pool
Pete Jenkins Younger Brother
Feet in pool, makes predictions
The Pool Where: Location
Cool water by the house
Summer Day When: Time
Hot Thursday vacation
Part 2: Plot Sequence Tiles for Page 2 3 event tiles
BEGINNING TILE
Joey invents "sink or float" to stay cool on summer break.
MIDDLE TILE
The boys test items: key sinks, apple floats, and acorn floats.
ENDING TILE
Pete kicks a big wave over the toy plane to make it sink.
Part 3: Sink or Float Result Badges (Cut & Paste on Page 2) Pick the right badge for each item
IT SANK! (Goes down)
IT FLOATED! (Stays up)
IT FLOATED! (Stays up)
IT SANK! (With wave!)
Teacher / Student Tip: Double check your story before gluing! Remember: Pete kicked the water to make the airplane sink at the end!
Sink or Float • Special Education Cutout Sheet Page 3 of 3 • Cut Sheet
