This is the Boats and Pennies STEM activity directions for our 7th grade Unit.

1. STEM Competition #2
Boats & Pennies

2. Your Challenge
• Design a boat out of aluminum foil that will
hold the most number of pennies and stay
afloat

3. Rules & Materials
• Construct the boat using only one piece of aluminum
foil (appx 10 in x 10 in)
• Pennies are the only item you may add to your boat
• Slowly add pennies to your boat. Once water enters
the boat, or the boat begins to sink, your turn is over.
• The last penny that sinks the boat will not be counted
in your total

4. Process & Helpful Hints
• Each group will have 3-4 pieces of foil to practice with (only 1 for
final boat)
• Each advisory will have one container/bucket and 100 pennies to
test their boat while in the constructing process
• During practice, once your boat sinks, you will have to remake
it—keep this in mind with the time
• During competitions—dry off pennies with paper towel before
testing each group
2:30-3:00 Create Boat
3:00-3:15 Grade levels compete
3:15-3:25 Clean Up