FLOAT YOUR BOAT

Water play is one of Nicky's favorite activities but I wasn't in the mood to clean up puddles so we did this activity that involved water without getting completely soaked. We tested water displacement and buoyancy. I made little boats out of aluminum foil and had Nicky put coins in one at a time to see how many coins it would take to sink the boat. It was her first time playing with coins. She loved the texture and the sound they made when they fell on the floor (the neighbors below us, not so much lol). I added fish to the water to resemble an ocean. Clearly we are obsessed with the sea in this family.

MATERIALS:

  • Large bowl

  • Water

  • Aluminum foil

  • Fishy friends (not necessary)

  • Coins

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1: Add water to the bowl and add in fishy friends.

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STEP 2: Make boats out of foil. I recommend making them before you start the activity so that the child doesn't get antsy or have the child help making the boats.

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STEP 3: Add coins onto the boat one by one. Have the child count or encourage the child to count each coin.

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STEP 4: Watch the boat sink as you add more and more coins. Repeat as many times as you'd like. 

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I think this might be my favorite activity of all (at least for now hehe) . Very little mess and a lot of excitement and learning. Encourage your children to learn through play and they will never get bored. Although she has no idea what water displacement and buoyancy means, she loved seeing the boats float and making them sink. 

ACTIVITIESindoor activities, sensory play, sensory diy, sensory bin, sensory activity