Model Boats

Prep

• Drill a hole in the center of each boat (a 4 x 6’ piece of wood0 to attach the mast (wooden dowel)

• Cut canvas into right triangles for sails

• Cut small slits into top and bottom of each “sail” so the “mast” can be inserted

Set Up

• At each student’s place, set a 4 x 6’ piece of wood and wood dowel with canvas

• Have markers ready in tubs for distribution.

Introduction/ Warm-Up

1. Ask students to describe boats they have seen. What size were they?  Show students pictures of large, life-size boats. Then show them a toy boat. How do these boats compare to the one in the image of Model of a Boat?
2. Ask the students why they think the sculpture is called a model. Brainstorm what a model might be used for.
3. Tell students they will be making their own models of boats from wood.
4. Ask students to point out the shapes they see in Model of a Boat.

Focus Activity Procedure

1. Show students three items they will use to make their sculpture (wood base, dowel, and canvas).
2. Demonstrate how to glue the mast onto their boat by putting a few dots of glue into the hole on their boat base and then sticking the mast in.
3. Wipe up any glue that spills over with a paper towel.
4. Next, show students how to insert the canvas sail onto the mast.
5. Once their boat is assembled, they can decorate. Tell students the markers they will use are permanent markers. This means that the marks will not come out of clothing and they should only use them on their boats. They need to be very careful. Students can decorate their boats however they like. Encourage them to think of a fun name for their boat.
6. Students need to write their own name on their boat, too! (teacher can help)
7. When students are finished, they should leave their boat at their table to continue drying, clean up, wash hands, and transition to closing.

Closing

1. Clean up.
2. Gather class for closing conversation. Ask: Are your boats smaller or larger than a real sailboat? Are they smaller or larger than the toy sailboat? Why are we calling these boats models?
3. Walk around to look at everyone’s model boats.

Written by Andrea Saenz Williams