DIY sailboat: An easy craft for your kids this monsoon

The monsoon is in full swing now and one of the best indoor activities that you can involve your kids in during the rainy season is making a sailboat at home and setting it afloat. However, this is not just a fun DIY activity. You can take this opportunity to help your child understand quite a few concepts of physics. They include: Forces, weight, buoyancy, gravity and centre of mass. After the sailboat is made, you can also discuss with your kids about the importance of waterways like streams and rivers that harbour diverse plants and animals and help us maintain biodiversity. Here is how you can help your little one design the boat.   

What you need  

• An assortment of wine corks, preferably 3 
• 2 rubber bands 
• Wooden toothpicks or skewers 
• Screws or nails 
• Waterproof material, such as craft foam, wax paper, paper milk carton, or other sturdy recycled materials to make a sail 
• Aluminum foil 
• Sink, bathtub or a large container that can be filled water  
• Hot glue 
• Spool of twine 
• Scissors 
• Fabric or other green craft supplies to decorate the sail (optional) 

Step-by-step guide 
Well, the process of making a sailboat is quite simple. Your little one will not only find it easy to make, he will also enjoy this DIY activity. You just need to make sure that the sink, bathtub or container where the boat will be set afloat, has enough water. Help your child follow this step-by-step guide.  

• Line up three corks (side by side, not end to end). Use more corks for a bigger boat.  
• Hot glue them.   
• On the two opposite ends of the boat, secure the rubber bands tight.  
• One end of the twine should be tied to the rubber band around the back of the boat, keeping the rest of the twine on the spool.  
• The next step would be to poke a toothpick into the center cork, making sure that it remains straight up. This is the mast, the part that holds the sail.  
• For the sail, a triangle should be drawn on the waterproof or recycled material.  
• After cutting out the sail, it may be painted or decorated (optional).    
• Now, glue the sail to the toothpick or skewer. The sailboat is made. 
• Float it in the water-filled container