This workshop shows the practical applications of all the academic disciplines with the main focus on math & science throughout the project of students building their own 10-foot boats.
The Kids Aboard Boat Building workshop inspires the necessary team work to get the job done well, while “dovetailing” with the lessons in physics, biology, earth science, and even chemistry, if you want to go there. Of course no building project can escape simple math, and this workshop is perfect for practicing simple math, geometry and algebra easily.
The beauty of the Kids Aboard Boat Building workshop is that the academic studies are just part of all the fun on this path to completing and launching the kids’ boats, and doing more hands-on activities with their boats in environmental science, ecology, biology, etc.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a SAMPLE syllabus, which has been applied to an award-winning workshop that we conducted at a public school in Florida. Our workshops are custom tailored to meet the needs of each group. The workshop may incorporate academic subjects such as math, science, marine science, physics, history, geography, art, music, maritime history & navigation, literature & language arts, etc.
Other areas of emphasis are team building, promoting the boating & sailing sport & lifestyle, and community projects.
The main focus of the Kids Aboard Boat Building Workshop is:
A) To emphasize how academics are used in real life activities and projects.
B) To show how important it is to concentrate on work and do the best work possible.
C) To promote team work where every individual is important.
D) To demonstrate how academics can be fun and used in fun and meaningful ways.
E) To emphasize that the preservation of water and the marine environment is vital to life on earth.
F) Safety and intelligence on the water is extremely important.
G) To provide a meaningful introduction to boating & sailing through “ownership” of the boating experience.
The general syllabus we outline below is set upon a weekly basis.
Day 1- The history of boat design and blueprint studies, some simple math, trans-Atlantic exploration, the survival of the first European settlers.
The introduction to the boat building will begin with a demo/lecture on safety and tool operation, with some practice hammering nails.
Play songs and sing with the guitar.
Day 2- Quick review of the previous activities and lessons. More in-depth study of math (measuring, adding, subtracting, fractions, etc) as related to our blueprints. Social Studies: Introduction to Map Studies. Language arts (reports of early American settlers, journaling about the workshop etc.), put the hulls of the boats and paddles together.
Play songs and sing with the guitar.
Day 3- Quick review of the previous activities and lessons. Practice more math to a higher level. Social Studies: Map Studies.
Also:
Share and edit reports.
Continue journaling.
Add the decks and mast steps to the boats.
Introduce science (physical & environmental related to boats and marine life).
Play songs and sing with the guitar.
Day 4- Quick review of the previous activities and lessons.
Also:
Share and edit reports.
Continue journaling.
Complete boats with lee boards, rudders, hardware and sails.
Brainstorm activities to use the boats for (science/experiments, competitions, etc).
Brainstorm art designs/color schemes and names for the boats.
Paint primer (white).
Play songs and sing with the guitar.
Day 5- Quick review of the previous activities and lessons
Share reports
Paint boats
Journal and share journals
Play songs and sing with the guitar.
We would be glad to answer any questions you may have about tailoring our workshop to your group’s ages & levels.