Ahoy there, matey. Come aboard Captain Nye’s Buoyant Barge of Science. There’s no swabbing the decks or battening down the hatches just the science of floating.

Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HZBusjP0uw

Mr Tuala’s class have lost the Boat Float competition and they want to figure out why. By learning more about density (and how it relates to floating a boat), they critique their original boat designs and use what they have learned to design and build new, more successful boats.

Do oranges float or sink in water? Time to find out with this fun science experiment related to density.

Three fun activities involving eggs.

The oceans have always been salty, although most lakes and ponds are not salty. Do things float the same way in a lake or on the ocean?

Next time you have to clean some dishes in the sink, try getting your hands dirty with a little science.

Suzy tests a variety of objects to sort out the floaters from the sinkers. What can you test, at home or at school?

Eggs sink in normal water so what can you do to make them float? Adding salt can give some surprising results.

See some amazing forces in action when you combine a hair dryer with a ping pong ball.

Investigate how we can harness the power of the wind. Design a sailboat model that can use wind power to move. How can the power of Tāwhirimātea, atua of the winds, help Emirates Team New Zealand’s boat go faster?

Uiuitia kia pēhea te whītiki te mauri me te kaha o Tāwhirimātea. Whakatauira mai he waka moana kua waihangatia e taea ana te hau pupuhi te mau i te ihi hei whakaangi.

We know sea water is salty - with this easy experiment you can find out just how salty it is where you live!

We all love to play in and around water. Why not try having some water fun at home without the need to get into your togs! Let’s see if you can make a waka that can float!

Suzy heads into one of her favourite rooms in the house, for some kitchen science. Do you know why some liquids don't mix? Will water and oil mix? They're both liquids - they should. shouldn't they? Lets find out together.

This book introduces children to the concepts of floating in and falling through air. It offers a variety of opportunities for them to carry out fair tests in situations that they will find fun yet challenging.

Understanding Buoyancy focuses on the popular topic of floating and sinking. The medium of water has been chosen because it is relevant to children's everyday experiences and observations. Most children have some understanding of how they themselves, and everyday objects, float or sink in water.

Joe has created a super fun challenge - to build your very own waka (raft). But not for you. For someone else!

Nanogirl visited Fern on The Moe Show to reveal the science of why boats float.