WHAT MAKES A BOAT FLOAT?

DO NOW: ANSWER THIS QUESTION IN YOUR NOTEBOOKS

SHARE YOUR ANSWERS WITH YOUR GROUP

• The rapid reporters from each group will share their answers with the class.• This information will help with today’s engineering design challenge!

WHATEVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT!

The ChallengeIn the floating boat challenge,you are going to build a boatthat can float and support 25pennies for at least 10 seconds—without leaking, sinking, ortipping over.

What will be collected:1. A sketch, or more than one, with notes about your design (one per group)2. A paragraph about why your design worked or didn’t work, and how you can improve it.

Each team has accessto the following materials:• 2 sheets of construction paper• 1 file folder • 4 popsicle sticks• 5 plastic straws• Four paper cups• 24" of tape• 25 penniesStudents do not have touse all of the materials inconstructing their boats.They must use the materialswisely, though: there are noreplacements for tangled-upduct tape or cut up papercups.

CHIEF ARCH ITECT SHOULD SKETCH DES IGN IDEAS

BRAINSTORM WITH YOUR GROUP ABOUT A DESIGN

THE CHALLENGE

1. Decide on the design that your group is going to use

2. Materials masters will gather the materials for your group

3. You will have 15 minutes to build your design. Testing coordinators are in charge of testing the designs as you work. Rapid reporters should be taking notes as you work (did you change your design, what materials did you use and where?)

4. I will collect sketches and notes at the end of class.

D AY 2 : TA K E 5 M I N U T E S T O F I N I S H / I M P R O V E YO U R D E S I G N S

WHATEVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT!

TEST TIME

• Each group will have a chance to test their boat designs. They have to meet 2 criteria:• Your boat can float and support 25 pennies for at least 10

seconds• Your boat doesn’t leak, sink, or tip over.

• After all groups test their designs, each person will write a paragraph (at least 5 sentences!!) about their results.• Did it work? Why or why not? How can you improve your

design? What made your boat float? Could it handle more pennies?

DISCUSSION: WHAT MAKES A BOAT FLOAT?

• When the pressure that is put down on a boat is equal to the amount of water that it displaces, or moves out of the way.• How does the size of the boat affect it?• Does putting more cargo in the boat affect your

design?