Float DIY Water Bottle Boats
Make mini boats to float or race with recycled water bottles.
Before You Play
Have a conversation with your child about boats. For example, ask, "Where have you seen a boat?" Talk about different kinds of boats and how boats float. Explain that a boat floats by settling into the water and pushing the water aside to make room for itself. The water pushes back on the bottom and sides of the boat, holding the boat up.
Materials
Directions
Cut out a small rectangle from the cardboard and cover it in duct tape.
Help your child tape the two water bottles side by side to the bottom of the cardboard.
Cut out a triangle and cover that with duct tape as well. To add flair, use a different color tape.
Tape the triangle to the top of the cardboard boat, making a fin or sail.
Fill a container (or bathtub) with water.
Now your child can float his boat! If he has some small action figure or dolls, ask him, "Do you think the boat will still float with your toy on top?" Have him test it out. If he has more than one toy, encourage him to experiment with the number of toys the boat will hold before it starts to sink.
Caroline Gravino has four children and is also a crafter, video producer, and content designer. For several years, Caroline wrote about project ideas for the whole family and encouraging creativity in kids in her former blog, SalsaPie.
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