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Builder's Lab / Week 08 / Monday
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Week 08 · Float It

Monday

The foil boat challenge
// A foil boat that carries the most coins
⏱ about 20 min

Monday: The Foil Boat Challenge

Rocket fills a big tub with water. Splash!

"Today we build boats from foil," Rocket says.

Raven holds up a stack of coins. "Our cargo!"

"What do you notice? Each coin is a little heavy," Raven adds.

Nova hovers over the tub. "Would you like a hint? Count until it sinks."

The challenge

  • Goal: a foil boat that carries the most coins.
  • Use one square of foil, the same size for every boat.
  • No tape.
  • Add coins one at a time, gently.
  • Stop when water comes in or the boat sinks.

How we score

Count the coins in the boat before it sinks.

The last coin that floated is your score.

THE CHALLENGE
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
What is the score for a boat?
Why does every boat use the same size of foil?
RuleAllowed?
Use one square of foil.?
Tape the corners of the boat.?
Drop all the coins in at once.?
WHY THIS EXERCISESame rules for every boat make the scores fair to compare.
Draw two boat shapes you could fold.

Float or sink?

Some things float. Some things sink.

Engineers test to find out.

This week, the same foil can float or sink.

Its shape will make the difference.

BOAT RULES
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
A boat starts to let water in. What do you do?
What is the cargo in this challenge?
Is tape allowed?
IdeaTrue or false?
Every boat uses the same size of foil.?
Add coins gently, one at a time.?
The last coin that floated is your score.?
Different coins for each boat is fair.?
WHY THIS EXERCISESame rules for every captain make a fair contest.
Try it
Find three small things from the toy box with a grown-up.
Guess: will each one float or sink?
Test each one in a bowl of water.
Safety first
A grown-up stays with you near water.
Use a small bowl of water.
Wipe up spills.

You know the rules of the sea!

Tomorrow, we learn why boats float.