Floating Boat Craft

Is your child dreaming of adventure? Then, grab a plastic container, a wooden dowel, and some paper and create Anchors Away! This craft will allow your preschooler to study buoyancy through a creative endeavor. Allow your child to customize his or her boat, then lift the anchor, set sail, and spend a sunny afternoon watching your boat float!

What you'll need:

  • Wooden dowel
  • Scotch tape
  • Sticky tack
  • 2 pieces of any colored cardstock (5 inches x 4 inches)
  • 1 small piece of craft foam
  • 10 inches of string
  • Markers
  • Clean, small, plastic container
  • Tacky or hot glue
  • anchor template
How to make your floating boat craft:
  1. Using the markers or crayons, decorate the cardstock to look like a sail. The two sails can be identical, or your child can make them different. Be sure to only decorate one side of the cardstock since the other side will not show. (see photos)
  2. Tape one of the sails to the top of the dowel so that the cardstock hangs over the top by one inch. Turn the other piece of cardstock around so it is facing the opposite way and tape the edges to the other piece of cardstock. (see photos)
  3. Place a large wad of sticky tack in the center of the boat and stick the end of the dowel into the sticky tack. If your boat begins to tip, remove the wooden dowel, and break off the end. The boat should be able to stand without being held. Secure sticky tack with glue. (see photos)
  4. Use the anchor template to trace an anchor on craft foam. Cut the anchor out and glue the piece of string to the top of the anchor. Glue the other end of the string to the inside of the plastic container. (see photos)
  5. If desired, decorate your boat with markers. (see photos)
  6. Your boat is ready to set sail, so? Anchors Away!
 floating boat craft boat craft materials floating boat craft kids boat craft boat craft with anchor kids floating boat craft floating boat craft for kids boat craft