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Description
Use common materials to explore buoyancy and power! Design a working electric motor boat with this activity. Find your hull in the recycling bin (milk jug, foam tray, pool noodles, etc.). Add the motor, propeller and other components. Set it in the water and watch it go. Learn through experimentation and tinkering. Evolve your boat through the engineering design process. This activity features Mini Hub Assemblies that allow you to create unique propellers by changing blade shape, angle and number.
This educational product pairs well with the Chapter 1 activity featured in The Power of the Wind Curriculum and is suitable for all ages, however youth 12 and under may require adult supervision.
Activity Documents
Click on the flowchart to view documents from each category.
Go Guide:
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Go Guide: PDF DOCX |
Give it to your students and go! This is the essential document to get students started with Build-A-Boat, and it culminates in the Speed Boat Challenge. |
Labs:
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Propeller Design Lab: PDF DOCX |
Create an experiment to investigate the variables that affect propeller design, then use the results to build a better boat! Ages 8+. |
Challenges:
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Go Guide: PDF DOCX |
Build the fastest boat! Or design it to carry the most weight, deliver a package, or hit a target! See the Go Guide documents for challenge instructions. |
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Engineering Notebook: Simple Version Full Version |
Available at two different learning levels, Engineering Notebooks are designed to help students cycle through the Design & Engineering Process and help them innovate and invent new designs. Use an Engineering Notebook page for each iteration of design. We recommend keeping extra copies of this on-hand for kids during activities. |
Other Resources:
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STEAM Market-It Challenge: PDF DOCX |
Add the STEAM Market-It Challenge to any completed activity to teach students how to turn their design into a retail product. Students will learn the 4 'Ps' of marketing - Product, Placement, Price and Promotion. Students have the option of completing a commercial, a billboard or retail packaging as a summative assessment. |
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Engineering Notebooks: Simple Version Full Version |
Available at two different learning levels, Engineering Notebooks are designed to help students cycle through the Design & Engineering Process and help them innovate and invent new designs. Use an Engineering Notebook page for each iteration of design. We recommend keeping extra copies of this on-hand for kids during activities. |
Optional Tools
Make even more innovative Boats with these optional tools!
Build-A-Boat Components
What comes with Build-A-Boat?
2x Perpendicular Blocks
3x Connector Strips
4x Screws (#10 25 mm)
4x Nuts (#10)
10x Project Sticks (250 mm)
1x Mini Hub Cover (red)
1x Mini Hub Base (red)
1x Mini Hub Screw
4x Zip Ties
1x Motor (Small 1.5V - 3V)
1x Motor Mount (Small 1.5V - 3V)
1x Battery Holder w/Leads & Switch
1x Chipboard (22 cm x 5 cm)
1x Dowels (300 mm)
2x Dowels (150 mm)
3x Dowels (100 mm)
2x Dowels (75 mm)
This is an educational product and not a toy. It is intended for use by ages 6 and above with adult supervision.
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