experiments, challenges, and events

July 5th addition!

In wanting to keep with the water/ boat theme the next suggestion I am making is to now make waves and see if your boats can sustain the energy in the waves.

All waves are caused by wind, except one......who knows the answer? To make your own wind try using fans (following safety precautions with water and electricity). If you do not have access to that, try dropping things in the water or making your own waves with your hands. Remember, getting wet in the hot weather is kind of the point!

In response to a couple readers questions about the aluminum foil boats, I have attached a photo of one of our many designs. This particular boat was able to hold 55 marbles before it took on to much water and went under. How many did yours hold? Don't forget to decorate your boats and maybe make some passengers.

One final suggestion, if you are in an area that is inundated with water, use the water you have. For example try sending your boats down the running water of the street (following all safety precautions of course and making sure you retrieve your boat so you do not litter!)

Stay tuned for videos and pictures of our boat regattas from this weekend!

Take care and have fun y'all!

The Garage Creative

 

 

 

For those of you looking to cool off (West Coast) and escape the rain (East Coast) and do something fun, creative, and learn something from it, here is my first suggestion.

BOATS!

I have done this many times with kids and love it for so many reasons.

·         Kids love it and its fun!

·         It teaches about buoyancy, engineering, and problem solving

·         So many different, easy, and readily accessible materials can be used

·         Super easy (see attached photo from my 3 year old!)

·         It can go on and on and on and on, well you get the idea

Here are the supplies you will need for the initial experiment:

·         Aluminum foil

·         Something heavy (pennies, marble, pebbles……)

·         Tub full of water (Bowl, swimming pool, bathtub….)

If your kids love it (which I guarantee they will) here are guiding questions and supplies you can use to extend it:

1.       Can you make a boat that moves?

2.       Can you make a boat that uses wind power?

3.       Can you make a boat that uses a paddle with a rubberband?

4.       How many more marbles, pennies, pebbles……..can your boat hold?

5.       That was a lot of aluminum, can you use less?

6.       What is the fewest amount of supplies you can use to make a moveable boat?

·         Popsicle sticks

·         Rubberbands

·         Sticks

·         Corks

·         Cardboard

·         Empty Yogurt, Milk, Pop, Coffee………..Containers

If you do this, please share your results, successes, re-gaventions, and thoughts! We would love to hear what worked and what did not. Remember, it is possible to learn more by failure than success. Encourage redo’s!