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The goal of this activity is to design the fastest sailboat or one that carries the most treasure. Using simple, colorful, and recycled materials, learners design and build a model vessel to achieve the optimal use of wind power. This is a fun, hands-on activity that reinforces the engineering design cycle. Learners can apply their knowledge and understanding of wind power, buoyancy, displacement, friction, and lift to their sailboat design. [Activity is publicly available through a web crawler capture on Archive.org.]
- 5 to 10 minutes
- 10 to 30 minutes
- $5 - $10 per group of students
- Ages 6 - 18
- Activity
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- Boat hulls
- K’NEX (for masts)
- Foam shapes (for sails)
- Plastic clips
- Gems
Subjects
-
Earth and Space Science
-
Earth Structure
- Oceans and Water
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Earth Structure
-
Engineering and Technology
-
Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Metallurgy and Materials Engineering
- Transportation Engineering
-
Technology
- Transportation
- Construction
-
Engineering
-
Mathematics
-
Measurement
- Rate
-
Measurement
-
Physical Sciences
- Energy
-
Motion and Forces
- Momentum and Velocity
- Acceleration
-
States of Matter
- Solids
- Liquids
- Gases
-
Structure and Properties of Matter
- Mass and Weight
- Volume and Density
-
The Nature of Technology
-
The Design Process
- Research and Development
- Invention and Innovation
- Problem Solving
- Troubleshooting and Maintenance
-
The Design Process
Informal Categories
- Transportation
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves teamwork and communication skills
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Components that are part of this resource:
Includes alignment to state and/or national standards:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Rights:
Funding Source:
- The Gordon Foundation