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.
Build-a-Boat Educational Goals
- Utilize the design and engineering process
- Encourage creativity, problem solving and critical thinking
- Learn about buoyancy and simple machines
- Apply the scientific method
- Innovate (design, build and evolve your own unique boat)
When working with kids on this activity, start with the Build Guide then move on to the Engineering Challenges.
Build Guide
Start by creating an example Boat using the Build Guide. This will be a great design to get you started. You’ll start to create your own amazing designs during the engineering challenges.
MS Word or PDF - Which document format should you download? Always download the PDF document, unless you want to edit/change it. If you want to edit/change the document, download the MS Word (Microsoft Word™) version.
Engineering Challenges
It’s time to redesign your example boat to compete in an engineering challenge.
Optional Resources
Engineering Notebook
Available at two different learning levels, the TeacherGeek Engineering Notebook is designed to help students cycle thru the Design & Engineering Process and help them innovate and invent new designs. Use an Engineering Notebook page for each iteration of design. It is recommended that extra pages are printed and on-hand during activities.
STEAM Market-It Challenge
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.
On the Web...
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TeacherGeek Tools You'll Need
What tools will you need to do this activity?
|
Process |
Process Description |
Recommended Tool |
Alternate Tool |
|
Cutting |
Cutting dowels, strips, recycling bin items, etc. |
|
Saw, Pruning Shears |
|
Reaming |
Change splined holes in components from press fit (dowels press and stay) to loose fit (dowels are able to slide and rotate). |
|
#3 Drill Bit and Drill |
|
Screwing |
Tighten and loosen screws |
|
None |
|
Holding and Pulling |
Hold nuts, pull apart components |
|
Teeth -Just kidding, please don’t |
Sets of tools can be found here.
Make your boat float by incorporating recycling bin materials. 
Build-a-Boat Components
What's in the Build-a-Boat Activity?
|
Component: |
Single Quantity: |
10 Pack Quantity: |
|
#10 25mm (1”) Screws |
4 |
40 |
|
Mini Hub (Red) Base & Cover |
1 |
10 |
|
Small 1.5-3V Motor |
1 |
10 |
|
Small Motor Mount |
1 |
10 |
|
AA Double Battery Holder w/Switch & Leads |
1 |
10 |
|
Perpendicular Blocks |
2 |
20 |
|
#10 Hex Nuts |
4 |
40 |
|
Connector Strips |
3 |
30 |
|
Zip Ties |
4 |
40 |
|
Dowels, 300mm (12in) |
4 |
40 |
|
Mini Hub Screw |
1 |
10 |
|
Toothpicks |
10 |
100 |
Science & Math Standards
TeacherGeek products fit proposals, grants or lesson plans with ease! Explore more resources below:
Next Generation Science StandardsNGSS Standards Download - PDF
NGSS Standards Spreadsheet - Editable /Searchable Excel Sheet
International Technology & Engineering Educators' Association Standards
ITEEA Standards Download - PDF
ITEEA Standards Spreadsheet - Editable/Searchable Excel Sheet
