Build-a-Boat / Electric Motor Boat Activity
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 TeacherGeek Mini Hub Assemblies; allowing you to build your own and create unique propellers by changing blade shape, angle and number.
Scroll down to "Things You'll Need" for more info.
Age Range
Customize this activity for the highlighted ages with tons of free labs and challenges!
This is an educational product and not a toy. Adult supervision is required.
Videos
Documents
Click on the flowchart to view documents from each category.
Go Guide:
Give it to your students and go! This is the essential document to get students started with their Boats.
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Go Guide: PDF DOCX |
Start here, build your Boat, and start 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:
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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Go Guide: PDF DOCX |
Challenge instructions are included in this document. |
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Engineering Notebooks: Simple Version Full Version |
Available at two different learning levels, TeacherGeek 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 TeacherGeek activity to teach students how to turn their TeacherGeek 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, TeacherGeek 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. |
Things You'll Need
You're going to need some stuff, but don't sweat it! You probably have it already.
Click a tab below to choose how you will complete this activity - that determines what you'll need.
You're in the right tab!
TeacherGeek Tools
REQUIRED
Screw Driver
Drive screws into holes.
optional
Slip Joint Pliers
Grab nuts, bend
wires, etc.
optional
Multi-Cutter
Cut dowels, strips,
recycling bin items, etc.
optional
Reamer
Ream splines (teeth),
from holes so
dowels spin freely.
optional
Mini Hammer
Tap dowels into
other components.
Other Supplies
- 2x AA Batteries
- Tape
- Recycling Bin Materials (for your boat's hull)
- Scissors
- Safety Goggles
You're in the right tab!
You will need to pre-cut the dowels for this activity, or your kids can cut them (with adult supervision).
TeacherGeek Tools
REQUIRED
Screw Driver
Drive screws into holes.
optional
Slip Joint Pliers
Grab nuts, bend
wires, etc.
REQUIRED
Multi-Cutter
Cut dowels, strips,
recycling bin items, etc.
optional
Reamer
Ream splines (teeth),
from holes so
dowels spin freely.
optional
Mini Hammer
Tap dowels into
other components.
Other Supplies
- 2x AA Batteries
- Tape
- Recycling Bin Materials (for your boat's hull)
- Scissors
- Safety Goggles
You're in the right tab!
Make sure you have the right components - check the Go Guide (see above).
You will need to pre-cut the dowels for this activity, or your kids can cut them (with adult supervision).
TeacherGeek Tools
REQUIRED
Screw Driver
Drive screws into holes.
optional
Slip Joint Pliers
Grab nuts, bend
wires, etc.
REQUIRED
Multi-Cutter
Cut dowels, strips,
recycling bin items, etc.
optional
Reamer
Ream splines (teeth),
from holes so
dowels spin freely.
optional
Mini Hammer
Tap dowels into
other components.
Other Supplies
- 2x AA Batteries
- Tape
- Recycling Bin Materials (for your boat's hull)
- Scissors
- Safety Goggles
Science, Math & Engineering Standards
TeacherGeek products fit proposals, grants or lesson plans with ease! Explore more resources below:
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NGSS Standards Spreadsheet: PDF DOCX |
NGSS standards matrix for all TeacherGeek activities. |
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ITEEA Standards Spreadsheet: PDF DOCX |
ITEEA standards matrix for all TeacherGeek activities. |
