Foil Boat Engineering Challenge

You don’t have to have a complicated supply list for an engineering challenge. Nor, do you have to create something something spectacular and life-changing. Simple is best.

Kids learn from taking items from their everyday life and using them in new ways to do simple things. It helps them understand the world around them and how things work.

Foil Boat Engineering Challenge = The Homeschool Scientist

This engineering challenge can be used with kids of all ages. We completed ours with grades from Kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. You can also complete this during the summer and cool off in the pool as boat designs are tested. Or, keep it indoors and use plastic tubs, the bathtub, or a sink.

For this engineering challenge, give each of your students a sheet of foil and a few drinking straws. Their challenge is to create a foil boat that is no larger than 6 X 6 X 6. The boats have to float and not tip over easily.

After the boats pass the float and tip tests on the water, start adding pennies (you can use marbles, too). The boat that holds the most pennies without tipping over or taking on water wins the challenge.

When doing this and other engineering challenges, don’t worry if your students create something that doesn’t look like a typical boat or whatever else the challenge is about. The idea isn’t to re-create something familiar. The idea is to brainstorm and problem-solve. New ways of doing things are great!

Download the foil boat STEM challenge cards!

We have put together eight STEM challenges, along with 6 BONUS ideas to make the challenges even more interesting!

CLICK HERE TO OPEN THE PDF AND SAVE TO YOUR DEVICE.

Here are just a few of the STEM challenges, but we have a few more in the STEM challenge cards printable. (Click the orange link above to directly open the PDF.)

Speed Boat Challenge
Build a boat with foil and straws that moves the fastest across a tub of water. Use your breath, a fan, or rubber bands for propulsion!
Cargo Boat Challenge
How much weight can your foil + straw boat hold before sinking? Test with coins, marbles, or small objects.
Rescue Mission
Design a boat that can carry a “passenger” (like a LEGO figure or paperclip person) safely across the water without tipping. (Your child can also make a human figure or animal figure out of foil.)
Waterproof the Deck
Modify your boat so the passenger area stays dry even when splashed. Bonus points for creativity! (You might need to provide additional materials depending on the waterproofing method!)

Here are a few of our photos. Need more STEM Challenge ideas?

Try the Paper Structures STEM Challenge Cards.

Fall Fun STEM Challenges

Keeping Animals Safe in Hot Weather STEM Activity

Animal Crossings STEM Activity

I hold a master’s degree in child development and early education and am working on a post-baccalaureate in biology. I spent 15 years working for a biotechnology company developing IT systems in DNA testing laboratories across the US. I taught K4 in a private school, homeschooled my children, and have taught on the mission field in southern Asia. For 4 years, I served on our state’s FIRST Lego League tournament Board and served as the Judging Director. I own thehomeschoolscientist and also write a regular science column for Homeschooling Today Magazine. You’ll also find my writings on the CTCMath blog. Through this site, I have authored over 50 math and science resources.