Sam Ferraro-Pollak

Todd Master

Umar Munroe

Boat Building teaches children about the principle of bouyancy.  By constructing toy boats from a variety of parts, students will learn what keeps objects afloat. Each team of children will build a model boat by connecting parts provided in the activity box. When the boat is complete, it will be tested in an aquarium filled with water. Weights, in the form of matchbox cars, figurines, etc. will be added to determine the boat's maximum load before it sinks. Marks on the outside of the aquarium, as well as the boat, will enable children to see how much water the boat displaces.

Boat Building is designed for children between the ages of 11-12. At this age, children are in Piaget's concrete operational stage, and can solve conservation of volume problems. This activity is also appropriate for children with developmental disabilities, since the goals are flexible. A less complex activity could involve teachers building boats and students predicting whether or not they will float.

In this activity, children will have access to a variety of boat parts, of different sizes, shapes and materials, that all connect to a plastic lego deck. Some of the parts will be metal, some wood, and some plastic, and the parts will have various enclosed volumes. By connecting the hulls, pontoons, and bouys to the deck, they increase or decrease its ability to float. Through experimentation, the children learn what characteristics cause an object to sink or float.

Boat building engages the students with a hands-on engineering activity. As part-time engineers, the children design a boat using problem solving methodology. This activity is appealing to children because it enables them to construct actual boats and test them. Children have the option of sinking their boat by adding excessive weight, or they can elect to leave their boat intact. The amount of children the activity can engage simultaneously is only limited by the number of boat decks and parts. Although water is involved, it is completely contained in the aquarium, and thus safe for classrooms. The largest object is the aquarium, with all other parts fitting inside, making the activity easily portable.