How to calculate density

Finding the density of materials by weighing items and immersing them in water

This is one of a set of resources developed to support the teaching of the primary national curriculum. They are designed to support the delivery of key topics within maths and science. This resource focuses on understanding density and, through a series of practical tests, working out which materials are low and high density.

Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links

In this activity learners will learn about the density of materials through testing. Learners will have an opportunity to weigh and work out the volume of an object. They will use this information and their number skills to calculate the density. They will then repeat this for other objects and discuss their results as a class.

This activity could be used as a main lesson activity, to teach learners how to collect data through measurement and to use number skills in a practical context. It could also be used as one of several activities within a wider scheme of learning focusing on the use of maths and science to understand the properties of materials.

The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Download the activity sheet for free!

All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs.

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