Penny Raft Challenge!

This penny raft construction challenge is an easy and fun activity you can try with your own students in the classroom!

Penny Rafts:  

The first challenge is to build a raft or boat that will support the greatest number of pennies when floating in a tub of water. 

Materials Needed:

Each partner group can be given four straws, a pair of scissors and a sheet of foil to construct a raft. No restrictions should be given on the design.

When I did this activity with my science club students, great care was taken to strategically place the pennies onto the raft as the teams watched and counted!

Rules for the Penny Raft Challenge:

If the raft takes on water, sinks, rips or tips over, the challenge ends at the count of the last penny added. The team whos raft stays afloat with the greatest number of pennies is declared the winner of the challenge!

The students loved this! The club members learned a great deal about the importance of working together and put their engineering minds to the test!

Coming soon~ tennis ball towers!