Looking for something fun to do that can use items from around the house? We invite you to take part in our Build a Boat Challenge.
The boat challenge is a lot of fun and is very open-ended. Basically, you want to find a bunch of materials around the house and … you guessed it … build a boat out of them!
From there, if your boat floats, you can test all sorts of things. One of our favorites is to see how many pennies it takes to sink your boat.
Our Museum Play Guides Mandy and Abigail had a great time building their boats and putting them to the test. You can check out their experience in the video below.
Ready to give it a try? First things first, you’ll need to collect your materials. You will need a pair of scissors and tape, but the rest is up to you.
With an adult, search your home for items that you can use. Items we used include tin foil, newspaper, cardboard, disposable drinking cups, and scrap paper. If you want to test how much weight your boat can hold, we recommend using pennies. Once you have your materials, find a sturdy workspace, and get started!
This challenge invites us to engage with numerous opportunities to build, experiment, strengthen our skills, and above all, PLAY!
You can always make changes to your boat or start over, using what you’ve learned to help you along the way.
When you are ready to test your creation, fill a large container or bathtub with water, and see what happens. If at first your boat doesn’t float or doesn’t hold weight, that’s just a part of the process. Mistakes help us learn and they give us the opportunity to try again.
You can always make changes to your boat or start over, using what you’ve learned to help you along the way. There are no hard and fast rules.
Let us know how it goes! Take some photos and tag us on Facebook or Instagram, and use #playalongsd We can’t wait to see your one-of-a-kind creations.
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