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Flotsam & Jetsam Boats

Goal, Objective or Purpose of Activity:

Fun activity that can teach environmental stewardship (e.g. shoreline clean-up) and boat characteristics (e.g. stability) by building a from materials found on grounds or near shoreline

Appropriate Age Level: 5+

Minimum/Maximum Number of Participants: 2+

Set-up Time Required: 30 minutes – 1 hour

Activity Time Required: 30 minutes – 1 ½ hour

Space Requirements: Regular meeting area

Materials/Resources:

1. Debris natural and anthropogenic (man-made) found along the shoreline.
2. Arts and craft supplies such as paper for sails can be used to augment what is found on the shoreline.

Procedure for Teaching:

1. Divide students into a teams (1-4 people per team)
2. Explain the purpose is to build a boat that can win the race in the water (i.e. shoreline, pool, kiddie pool, rain gutter) – certain time limit, kids are allowed to use anything they find provided it is not dangerous (i.e. broken glass, rusty metal, needles) to build a boat
3. When complete teams explain their boat name and design concept
4. Boats then launched into a pool, kiddie pool or the water to see which won can win the race. Straws can be used to supply additional thrust.
5. Winner gets to crush all boats

Student Product:

Boat built from recycled materials to take home or at least show parent at end of the day

Extensions:

1. “Rain Gutter Regatta” – cap the ends of two equal (10’-20’) lengths of rain gutters and fill with water, participants race head to head by supplying wind via straw

2. “Anything that Floats Race” where participants build boats to race in from items not meant for a boat – can be large event for the entire program at the end of the season.

3. Build wooden sailboats from scrap wood, cloth and line decorate as desired even add proper navigation lights, etc. (Merry Petitclair)

Reflection:

Contributor(s): Tuck Northrop, BRYC