We tried this boat float STEM activity from Good Housekeeping Amazing Science Free STEAM Experiment Sampler (free e-book on Amazon). This sampler book has 7 awesome things to make with your kiddo. It is recommended for ages 8-12, but with some modifications, my son is able to do some of their STEM ideas. In this activity your child gets to see if objects sink or float by themselves, and if the ones that sank can float on the boat.
Supplies Needed:
- aluminum foil
- sink with water
- various objects to test if they sink or float
How To:
For this activity you will make a boat out of aluminum foil. I tore off a piece about 8 inches long. I folded all 4 sides inward about 1/2-1 inch until they were flat. Then I folded them over again, but this time I left the sides standing up. I tried to fold one end of the foil loosely into a boat shape, but it just looks like a triangle. I think leaving it as a square is fine. (The book has picture instructions.)
We grabbed some objects to test if they sink or float by themselves. My son picked a small plastic piece (that might be a Lego); a plastic Olaf figure; and a rubber duck. I helped by suggesting a metal snowman charm and some coins. He happily grabbed his piggy bank to see if the coins would float.
Sink or Float?
Fill your sink up halfway with water. Go object-by-object, and ask your child if you think it will sink of float. Test each object. We found that the small plastic piece, Olaf, and the rubber duck all floated on their own so they did not need a boat. However, the snowman charm and the coins sank.
My son placed his foil boat in the sink and he put the metal snowman charm on the boat. It didn’t sink! Then he put pennies on the boat, and the boat floated. He dumped a lot of his coins into the boat to see if it would still float. He was surprised that the boat full of coins stayed afloat!
This boat float STEM activity (with our modifications) was a success! I will definitely be referring to this book as my son ages for more STEM ideas. Please check out my STEM page to see other science, technology, engineering, and math activities that my son and I have done together.
