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You are here: Home / Concepts / Science / Preschool Science Investigation~Create a Boat

Preschool Science Investigation~Create a Boat

By Shaunna Evans 4 Comments · This content may contain affiliate links.

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For Discover & Explore this week we are sharing ideas about Boats, Water Fun & Things that Float. We set up an invitation to explore and the kids experimented with different materials to see which would make the best boat. Check out our investigation. Then don’t forget to share your own boat activities in the linky below.

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.

Invitation to Explore-Create Your Own Boat

After reading a few books about boats the kids started talking a lot about different kinds of boats. One of them asked what makes boats float. I thought it would be the perfect topic to explore a little more, so we gathered a few small containers, bowls made of paper and plastic, shells, foil, wax paper, and a piece of an egg carton.

I set everything up outside next to our kiddie pool. Once I showed the kids the invitation, Lovey immediately said we needed to have passengers for our boat–agreed! We grabbed a few, and the kids were eager to get started exploring.

Toddler Sink and Float Activity

Tinker was so excited to make her “shell boat.” Imagine her surprise when it immediately plummeted to the bottom of the pool!

Make a Boat Science Experiment

Lovey tried to use the wax paper first. I envisioned them trying to fold the paper to make a boat, but they preferred to leave it flat. I resisted the urge to get involved in their process, and instead I observed. At first the wax paper held quite a few people, and Lovey was pleased with her “boat.”

Preschool Science Activity-Can You Build a Boat

But soon she had to rescue the passengers as the wax paper began to sink.

Preschool Science Experiment-Make a Boat

Then she decided to see what would happen if she used the foil. This proved to make a better boat, and she played with it for a while.

Sink and Float Preschool Science

Then she decided to move on to experimenting with the bowls. She found that the plastic bowl held the most passengers of all without sinking.

I really enjoyed listening to the conversations and thought behind each material chosen and the conclusions they were making as they observed whether each boat would sink or float. It will be fun to revisit this invitation in a while and see if there approach changes after they have more experience with boats and water activities.

Splash

And when they were done exploring, splash!! Investigation over. 🙂

 

Boats, Water Fun and Things That Float

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Filed Under: Discover and Explore, Invitations to Explore, Kindergarten, Letter B, Outdoor Play, Preschool, Quick and Easy, Science Tagged With: boat activities for kids, boat experiment, invitation to explore, preschool science, sink and float activities

Previous Post: « Cooking with Kids~Seashell Snack & Play
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Phyllis at All Things Beautiful

    August 4, 2013 at 8:01 am

    These are wonderful explorations. I love how you let her experiment. I don’t always to that enough. I love this link-up idea.

    Reply
    • Shaunna

      August 5, 2013 at 1:35 pm

      Thank you! Over the past year we’ve been transitioning to more and more of these open investigations, and we are all enjoying them. The kids learn so much and really have fun in the process. I’m glad you like the linky themes…I find so many great ideas each week!

      Reply
  2. Ann @ My Nearest and Dearest

    July 31, 2013 at 2:52 pm

    I love how simple this is yet it encourages kids to put their thinking caps on. My son would really get into this, especially as he’s been on his Grandpa’s boat quite a bit this summer and is into all things boating right now.

    Reply
    • Shaunna

      August 5, 2013 at 1:46 pm

      I agree, Ann–sometimes it’s the simple activities that are the most engaging. I hope Peanut has fun creating his own boats!

      Reply

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