In this science project the student solves a problem using a boat and pennies. The student will design and build a boat meant to hold as many pennies as possible. While the student is going through the process tell him to think about how the boat and pennies might be a metaphor for experiences in his own life. The greater lesson for a student to take away will be to realize that the ability to control everything in his life or someone else's is impossible. A student will learn that positive thinking is a powerful tool.
Assign students into working pairs and give the pair the materials to build a boat: 10 ½ straws and masking tape. Write these questions on the board for the students to consider when designing the boats: Why do boats float? What kind of boat designs are there? Which shape of a boat floats best? What will happen when you try to float your boat? How many pennies do you think your boat will hold? Ask the students to document responses in science journals before continuing. Give the students between 15 and 20 minutes to design the boat.
Put a kiddie pool in the middle of the classroom filled with water for testing. When the time is up, tell students to stop work on the boats and gather around the pool. One at a time have the pairs come up and try to float the boat. Have the pair tell the class why the design was created and how many pennies the boat may be able to hold. Then put the boat on the water and place as many pennies on the boat until it tilts or sinks, causing the pennies to fall off. Keep a chart that shows the name of the student pair, the guess at how many pennies the boat would hold and how many pennies the boat actually held. Compare guesses with results and announce the winner at the end.
Discuss as a class, moving from pair to pair, what elements you could control and not control while designing and building the boat. Ask if students would change the design if the students could do it over or if the boat could have been tested in the water before the final presentation. Have each student explain what he would change in the design and why. Reiterate the problem solving skills that were used in the boat building project. Then, ask the students to consider how this task was like many experiences in life. Have students reflect on the things they can and can't control, as well as perhaps behaviors that are and aren't working.
Have students write personal responses to the class discussion and questions that you asked in the science journals. Tell each student to feel free to add any additional comments or insight she may have gained from the problem solving activity. Collect the journals and provide feedback.