Stick and Leaf Boat Regatta

What you need

• Painter's tape, a little
• Water, a puddle, tub of water, or calm stream
• Towel, 1

How to do it

Grown-up prep: Pick your water spot: a puddle, a tub of water, or a calm stream edge. Bring a roll of tape. If you use a stream, choose a shallow, flat bank with no strong current. Stay within arm's reach of your child the whole time near water.

1. Hunt for small sticks and big flat leaves. Pick sticks as long as your hand.
   Ask: Which sticks feel the lightest? Do you think light or heavy ones will float better?
2. Lay two or three sticks side by side to make a raft base.
3. Wrap a little tape around the sticks to hold them together.
4. Add a leaf sail: poke a small stick through a leaf and tape it on.
5. Build a second boat, maybe a different shape, so you can race.
6. Walk to the water. A grown-up stays right next to you.
7. Gently set your boat on the water and let it go.
   Ask: Did it float? Why do you think wood and leaves stay on top of the water?
8. Float two boats at the same time and count to see which stays up longest.
9. Change one thing, like adding another stick or a bigger leaf, and test again.
10. Now show your friends, or build more! How long can your best boat float?
    Ask: What will you name your champion boat?

Play it again

• Pebble cargo: add one small pebble to your boat and see how many it can carry.
• Team relay: take turns changing one thing about the same boat and beat the last float time.
• Sail swap: race boats with different leaf sails and see which sail wins.