Sailing Ships and Sinking Spoons

 

Author: Jamyang Gyaltsen is a writer who creates children’s stories that connect everyday experiences with simple learning ideas. His work often focuses on making concepts easy for children to understand through storytelling.

Source: https://storyweaver.org.in/en/users/5457-jamyang-gyaltsen

Illustrator: Ngawang Dorjee is an art teacher at a Tibetan school in Dharamshala. He also worked as an illustrator on the Department of Education’s first graded reading series in Tibetan.

Source: https://storyweaver.org.in/en/users/33518-ngawang-dorjee

Publisher: Pratham Books 

Year: 2018

Reading Level: Level 3

Genre: Informational fiction; science concept book

Synopsis

The story follows two young Tibetan boys, Tenzin and Tashi, who enjoy sailing paper boats after the rain. While playing, they begin to wonder why boats float on water. Curious to find the answer, they approach their teacher, who guides them through an experiment using an apple and a spoon. Through observation and discussion, the children understand why some objects float while others sink. The story gradually introduces ideas like displacement and buoyancy. Towards the end, the book also explains related science concepts like gravity, density and floating in a simple and child-friendly way.

Theme / Skill

1. Basic science concepts (floating and sinking);
2. Observation; 
3. Questioning

Pre-reading

• Ask children what happens when they put different objects in water. Do all things float?
• Ask if they have ever made paper boats or played in rainwater.

During reading

• Pause when the boys ask why boats float and ask students what they think the answer could be.
• While reading the experiment part, ask children to predict what will happen to the apple and the spoon.
• Discuss why the apple floats and the spoon sinks in simple terms.

Post-reading

• Activity: children test objects (stone, leaf, plastic toy, spoon) in water and note what floats or sinks.
• Use a “What if?” prompt: what if the spoon was shaped like a boat, would it still sink?
• Students explain in their own words why some things float.
• Assessment: Students identify one object that floats and one that sinks, and explain why using simple reasoning (for example, “it pushes more water” or “it is heavier”).

Reflection

This book explains science concepts using a simple story instead of directly teaching definitions. It starts with something usual like children playing with paper boats and slowly turns into a eureka moment. The experiment with the apple and spoon works so well because it is something children can actually try themselves.

In a place like Delhi, where many Tibetan migrants live, this book can also build awareness. Children who may not know much about Tibetan communities can see small details of their life, like the monastery and greetings, without it feeling forced.

The last few sections that explain concepts like gravity, buoyancy and displacement are also useful. They help connect the story to actual learning. It does become slightly more textbook-like at the end, so younger children might need some support while reading that part. I love how it balances story and concept quite well though.

References

Gyaltsen, J. (2018). Sailing Ships and Sinking Spoons. Pratham Books.