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STEM Challenge: Design a Boat that Floats

September 22, 2015 by OneMommy

Grab the recyclables, toss the kids in the car (gently!), and head to a local creek.

It’s a great time for a simple STEM challenge:  design a boat that floats.

This is one of our favorite STEM activities, and can be done over and over as the kids get older and their designs become more sophisticated.

STEM Challenge: Design a Boat that Floats, a fun engineering activity for kids

If you want to give this project a new twist, check out our balloon boat challenge and see if your child can power their boat with a balloon.

STEM Challenge: Design a Boat That Floats

Our homeschool group got together at a local park with a creek to do this challenge.  You could also test your boats out in a pond, kiddie pool or even the bathtub.   Wherever you go, I guarantee the kids will have fun, and learn something too!

We spread all the materials out on the picnic tables at the shelter and gave the kids plenty of time to get creative.

Some of them chose to collect sticks to form the base of their boat.  These were tied together with a bit of twine.  (Pipe cleaners were also helpful in keeping those sticks together!)

 

STEM boat challenge

 

Craft foam and card stock were popular choices for making sails.  These both hold up fairly well to a bit of water, unlike light weight paper choices.

 

kids build a boat activity

 

It was fun to see their minds all working:  thinking, designing, and building.

 

Once they were happy with their boat’s design, it was time to decorate with stickers, permanent markers, pipe cleaners, and whatever else they found.

designing a boat that floats

 

Then it was time to test out the boat designs!

They were thrilled to see that all the boats they designed stayed afloat.

 

STEM activity -- designing boats that float

 

A piece of ribbon, tied to the end of the boat was a good solution for keeping them from traveling too far down stream.

 

kids STEM activity with boats

 

Materials to Consider for the Boat Design Challenge:

  • Empty plastic bottles and plastic cups
  • Egg cartons
  • Sticks and straws (to make masts for sails)
  • Yarn, twine, string, and ribbon
  • Craft foam, card stock, and cardboard (sails)
  • Duct tape, electrical tape, and packing tape
  • Stickers, permanent markers, pipe cleaners, and other decorating items

 

Want to increase the STEM challenge?

See how much weight the boats can hold!  Pennies or small pebbles make good weights.

See how long the boats stay afloat.  Use a timer to see which boat floats the longest.  Brainstorm reasons the boat floats longer than the others.

Find ways to waterproof the boat.  Will plastic wrap work?  Packing tape?

Or, try to power your boat by making a vinegar & baking soda boat.

 

This STEM challenge: build a boat that floats is perfect for a wide range of ages. (And it makes a great camp craft!)

 

Other STEM challenges you may enjoy:

  • DIY Rubber Band Boat
  • Plastic Egg Submarines
  • Build Your Own Catapult
  • Make a Paper Cup Phone
  • 30+ STEM Activities to Help Your Child Soar
 

Filed Under: Kids Activities Tagged With: recycled craft, science experiment, STEM, STEM activity

Comments

  1. Erin @Nourishing My Scholar says

    September 26, 2015 at 11:28 am

    This is so awesome!!!! Pinning and sharing. ?

    • OneMommy says

      September 27, 2015 at 1:45 pm

      Thanks for pinning and sharing! It was definitely a big favorite in our homeschool group!

  2. Luke Strickland says

    September 27, 2015 at 1:57 am

    This looks like a great idea and lots of fun – we’ll try this at some of our home ed groups soon I think! #busydoinglife

  3. OneMommy says

    September 27, 2015 at 1:47 pm

    All of the kids loved it. I wish I had gotten a few more pics, though. But, the kids were all moving around and so excited to try out their boats, and I didn’t want to stop them! ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. samantha says

    September 27, 2015 at 10:41 pm

    What a cute idea! I love how you used the sticks to make a raft. I’m going to have to try this with my kids. Thank you so much for sharing. #busydoinglife

    • OneMommy says

      September 29, 2015 at 2:06 pm

      I learned that I am not good at tying twine when we made our raft, but pipe cleaners worked out awesome! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Hope your kids have fun building their boats!

  5. Emma says

    September 28, 2015 at 12:07 pm

    What a great challenge to get kids thinking! I wish we had a local creek to head to – the best we can do is our bathtub, lol!

    • OneMommy says

      September 29, 2015 at 4:12 pm

      I bet they would love to float boats in the bathtub! ๐Ÿ™‚

  6. Heather says

    September 29, 2015 at 7:43 am

    Great idea! I know my boys will love it.

    • OneMommy says

      September 29, 2015 at 2:03 pm

      I think it was one of my son’s favorite activities we’ve done. He actually made 2 boats that day and wants to make more.

      Hope your boys have fun!

  7. Helen @ Witty Hoots says

    September 29, 2015 at 10:51 am

    Some great ideas and a wonderful way to recycle some materials as well too. Thanks for joining in with the Frugal Family Linky.

    • OneMommy says

      September 29, 2015 at 2:03 pm

      We love to use the recyclables whenever we can!

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