Summer Workshop Series #4: Float or Sink—STEM Boat Engineering Challenge

During Thread of Hope’s Summer Workshop Series #4 on August 1, students explore buoyancy and discover what makes a boat float or sink.

Students experiment with different shapes and designs before building boats of their own. They test how much weight each boat can hold, observe how weight distribution affects stability, and compare which designs stay afloat the longest. When a boat sinks or tips over, students adjust their ideas and try again.

Through this hands-on challenge, students learn that successful engineering involves planning, testing, and improving. They see how shape, size, materials, and balance work together—and discover that even a simple boat can teach important lessons about physics and engineering design.