Great Steamboat Race


Source Institutions

Source Institutions

Add to list Go to activity
Activity link broken? See if it's at the internet archive
In this outdoor activity, learners race small boats, made of cork, balsa wood, popsicle sticks etc., to investigate the rate and direction of currents in a stream or creek. Learners will examine what variables such as water volume, slope of the stream bed, and obstacles such as rocks determine the rate and direction of a stream's flow. To expand learners' investigations of stream life, this activity can be combined with the What Lives Here and Hold It! activities from the same source.

Quick Guide


Preparation Time:
30 to 45 minutes

Learning Time:
45 to 60 minutes

Estimated Materials Cost:
$10 - $20 per group of students

Age Range:
Ages 8 - 18

Resource Types:
Activity, Field Trip, Game, Lesson/Lesson Plan

Language:
English

Materials List (per group of students)


  • boats made of small pieces of cork, twigs or light wood
  • long, thin sticks
  • 110-cm lengths of light monofilament fishing line
  • large-headed pins or thumbtacks
  • stopwatches or watches with second hand
  • paper
  • pencils
  • waterproof marking pens
  • flagging strips
  • window screen material or mosquito netting
  • tack, nails or staples
  • observation trays
  • meter stick
  • 2 poles
  • pieces of cork

Subjects


  • Earth and Space Science
    • Earth Structure
      • Oceans and Water
  • Engineering and Technology
    • Engineering
      • Transportation Engineering
  • Life Sciences
    • Ecology
      • Biodiversity
  • Mathematics
    • Data Analysis and Probability
      • Data Analysis
      • Data Collection
    • Measurement
      • Rate
  • Physical Sciences
    • Motion and Forces
      • Momentum and Velocity
  • The Nature of Science
    • The Scientific Process
      • Asking Questions
      • Conducting Investigations
      • Gathering Data
      • Formulating Explanations
      • Communicating Results
  • The Nature of Technology
    • The Design Process
      • Invention and Innovation

Informal Categories


  • Games
  • Nature and Environment
  • Outdoor Activity
  • Physical Activity
  • Transportation

Audience


To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • read
  • be mobile
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves teamwork and communication skills
  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other


This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, The Regents of the University of California, 1981