Materials
Construction paper in a variety of colors
Scissors
Glue
Instructions
1. Spread out collage materials for boat building.
2. Ask children to select a base for their boat (plastic or Styrofoam container).
3. Encourage the children to attach collage materials to their bases using tape,
glue, rubber bands, or a stapler. Be careful not to load up one side of the
container, or the boat might tip over and sink!
4. Help the child poke a hole near the top edge of the container and insert a
long piece of yarn or string. Tie it gently so the container does not tear. Add
extra tape or staples to make it strong. The children will pull the string to
propel their boats through the water.
5. When the boats are complete, float them in water. Carefully supervise the
children around water. Remember to have fun it's okay to get wet!
Collage materials
aluminum foil
buttons
paper and fabric scraps
plastic flowers
pompoms
ribbon
stickers
string
More to do
Literacy: Read The Story of Ping by Marjorie Flack. Place a little toy duck in the
homemade boat and play out the story of the little duck named Ping.
More Literacy: Read Little Toot and the Lighthouse by Linda Gramatky-Smith,
and play out the story of Little Toot with the homemade boat. Add a block of
wood for the lighthouse. Flash the lights to simulate lightening, and bang on piepans
to make thunder.
Science and Math: Add balls of clay, one at a time, to a floating empty plastic
container. How many balls of clay does it take to sink the boat? This allows
exploration in the areas of displacement as well as balance, weight, and flotation.
More Science and Math: Fill a dish tub with water. Assemble items that float and
items that sink. Explore to see which ones float and which ones sink. Place heavy
and light items into the boat and see what happens. Which ones allow the boat
to continue floating and which ones cause it to sink?
Social Studies: Tell the children about the traditional festival called Loy
Krathong, which is when the people of Thailand celebrate water and its bounty.
Itmoon. Children make a wish and float their lighted boat at night. Encourage children
to decorate their boats with additional items, such as nuts, pennies, and
candles and put on your own festival. takes place just before harvest time in mid-November on a night with a full
