This activity can be done with groups or individually. Pass around sheets of paper, tape, paper clips and colored pencils to each group or student. Ask the class of boys to design their own paper airplane or as a group come up with a team airplane design. They can use any and as much of the supplies you provided them. Give the classroom of boys some time to work on the planes. Walk around and help out any boy or group with any questions. Try not to provide too much advice in building. With the planes are done, take the classroom of boys outside or to a clear space in the classroom. Mark a point on the ground with tape to represent the runway. One at a time, have each team or student stand at the mark on the ground and fly their paper planes as far as they can in the same direction. Leave the planes where they land, or mark the landing spot if there's a lot of wind. The plane that goes the farthest wins. Have the winner show the class how to build the winning plane design.
Break the classroom of boys up in groups of three or four. Pass out popsicle sticks, glue and any other craft supplies on hand. Ask the groups to design and build a boat that floats and sails. Walk around and help with ideas and give advice on what to think about, but try not to take away the problem-solving part of the activity. As the class of boys is working, set up a long container of water or a small kiddy pool outside. Mark one side of the container or pool with green tape or paint and the other side with white or a checkered flag. Ask the groups to bring their boats outside for the class' first ever "Boat Race of Champions." Tell the boys that they are now members of an exclusive sailing club and they have to race their creations to find the best. Have two groups at a time race their boats. The winners will go onto the next round until one group wins them all. Before each race, the teams will pick one member in their group to be the wind. The wind will blow on the boat to get it across the finish line.
Pass out sheets of craft paper and colored pencils. Tell your class of boys that they were shipwrecked on an island and all they have is this sheet of paper and colored pencils. Ask the class to use the sheet of paper and draw a detailed map of the island, marking everything they can, from their makeshift hut to the clean water supply. On the other side of the paper, ask the class to write a short story about their arrival on the island and if they stayed or were saved, plus any details in between. Ask them to be as creative as possible. Give your class of boys a few days to work on and finish their island epics. Once done, have each student tell his story and show his island to the rest of the class.
This activity can be done with large groups of five or six boys to keep costs down, but it's fun for any size group. Build the volcano's base with a square sheet of wood and a plastic cylinder attached to the center. This assembly can also be done by the students when in groups. Have each group use a mix of flour, water and paper to build a papier mache volcano around the cylinder. They will need to form the volcano so the top of the caldera is hidden but not covered; also ask them to leave a flat area around the base. Once the volcanoes are built, store them in a dry warm place to dry out and harden. Once dry, ask the class to paint their volcanoes to look like harmless mountains. Ask the groups to show off their volcano to the rest of the class, then mix together baking soda, red food coloring and vinegar to make the volcanoes ooze red lava.