Foil boat challenge: a play idea for 4 and 5 year olds
Testing and changing a design is engineering, done in a tub. It takes about 15 minutes and uses kitchen foil, a tub or sink with a little water, spoons or plastic blocks for cargo.
Checked October 29, 2026.
How to play
Foil boat challenge4 and 5 year olds · about 15 minutes
You need: kitchen foil, a tub or sink with a little water, spoons or plastic blocks for cargo.
- Shape a square of foil into a little boat.
- Float it in the water.
- Add spoons or blocks one at a time: how many before it sinks?
- Make a new shape and test again.
Builds: thinking and problem solving. Testing and changing a design is engineering, done in a tub.
Safety: Stay within arm's length the whole time. Young children can drown in an inch or two of water, so pour the water out as soon as you finish.
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