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Design a Boat to Balance Pennies

This activity is going to challenge your child. The idea is to design a small boat using stationary and kitchen items with the aim that this boat will be able to float and hold 20 pennies! Your child can be as creative and imaginative as they want to be and together you can plan the best boat design idea and creatively decorate it too.

Jar of Pennies

To start the activity, it is always good to start talking about what you can use to make your boat. You can ask your child questions, such as what they think would float and what would sink?

You could use these items below ready to be used

  • Plastic straws
  • Duct tape
  • Craft paper
  • Cling film
  • Plastic containers/Tupperware
  • Mini paper cups
  • 20 pennies set aside in a plastic bag
  • Pen
  • Paper

This activity is good for investigating, problem-solving, looking to find solutions, working things out, trial and error etc. It’s good to start the activity by planning out the boat together. Your children can draw what they want it to look like using imagination and this also supports their critical thinking.

Once the boat has been designed and made, you can start to balance the pennies on top. This will then introduce math and problem solving into the activity, with counting and balance. Add them slowly and see how many pennies the boat can hold. It’s fun to video this on the phone and makes a great activity to add to your child’s online learning journey.

floating boat for carrying pennies

What Our Parents Say

When leaving our daughter for the first time we were reassured and supported every step of the way. My daughter comes out of nursery happy after having her feedback and it's amazing how they adapt to each child's needs. She enjoys looking at her learning journey with us, saying what she is doing in the pictures. The setting is calm and welcoming, the staff are enthusiastic and caring . Bumpkins has endless opportunities for my daughter to explore and learn in a natural curiosity way. She has made lovely bonds with the grownups already; she has settled so quickly and that is down to the amazing team and managers that support her and help her thrive!

PA (Mother of Child)

Very talented and caring staff. My son really loved this nursery. He learnt a lot in all aspects from communication, relationship building, being independent, to learning maths, shapes, letters, word, sentences etc. Really pleased with the development. Thanks to all the lovely staff, you are all the best.

Vaibhav H (Father of Child)

My daughter has been in the nursery since the Baby Room. It has been an incredible journey. Now she is in the pre-school and every day she is excited to go to the nursery. She loves the staff, her key worker, the other kids, the setting (especially the garden). She really enjoys all the activities organised through the week/day. She enjoys and has fun while learning. The staff encourage and support multilingual families making the kids feel proud they can speak more than one language. Now the staff are also getting her ready to go to school this September. The staff have always been amazing, very approachable, flexible and caring.

B C (Father of Child)

The staff are so kind and caring, they all know my daughter even those in different rooms. She skips in to see them every day and they are as excited as me when she does new things. It's a home away from home.

H G (Mother of Child)

I can't thank the staff enough for giving me peace of mind when my child is with them. The number and variety of activities each day is amazing and the fact they manage to get in the garden or go on trips - even in winter is fantastic. My child's development is streets ahead of his peers who don't attend nursery.

S H (Mother of Child)

The nursery has a lovely nurturing and vibrant atmosphere which my son loves. There is plenty of space for him to explore and learn via the vast range of toys and equipment they have. I know he is well cared for. I am always well informed and I work together with the nursery staff to give my son the best possible experience.

Claire F (Mother of Child) 

The care, consideration and attention my son receives is exemplary. Staff pay attention to his strengths and weaknesses and verbalise them to us and ideas for developing them are implemented. All staff demonstrate an excellent attitude and have excellent relationships with their designated children.

A D (Father of Child)

The staff were warm, caring and professional and the facilities are great. We felt like our daughter was part of a big family. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all working there.

E S (Mother of Child)

I have been impressed by the level of care given to my son since he started. The daily warm welcome of the staff makes both children and parents alike feel at ease. Seeing the smile on my boy's face as we drive into the car park is proof enough for me that the team are doing something right.

Alexander M (Father of Child)

My little girl has recently started and is absolutely loving her time at nursery. The settling in sessions were brilliant and really helped put my mind at ease, especially with me starting back at work. The ladies in the Baby Room are super friendly and enthusiastic and I can't thank them enough for their support in what could have been quite an emotional rollercoaster.

G W (Mother of Child)

Once I drop my son off into the Baby Room, I feel he's as safe and as well looked after as I do at home.

Laura R (Mother of Child)