Time and Place
Age
⚙ 3 years and up
⚙ Any time of day
⚙ Any time of the year
⚙ Indoors or outdoors (if weather permits)
Materials
⚙ Water
⚙ A large bin or sensory table
⚙ Plasticine (could also use clay or aluminum foil)
⚙ Beads (could use pebbles, coins, or any other similar sized small objects)
Safety
⚙ Supervise children at all times
⚙ Take extra precautions when playing with water
⚙ Watch out for choking hazards
Instructions
Fill the bin or water table with water. Give the children plasticine and encourage them to make a boat that will fit as many beads as possible. Older children can make predictions about the number of beads their boats will hold before sinking.
Questions You May Ask
⚙ How can you make a boat with plasticine?
⚙ How can you make your boat hold more beads?
⚙ What else can you use to make boats?
⚙ What are boats used for?
Play-based Context
Children of all ages enjoy playing with boats and exploring what floats and sinks.
Related Children's Books
⚙ Who Sank the Boat? by Pamela Allen
⚙ What Floats in a Moat by Lynne Berry
⚙ Good Night Boats by Adam Gamble and Mark Jasper
⚙ Big Machines Float! By Catherine de Veitch
