Newspaper Boat Float Test
Fold newspaper into a hat and then into a boat, then float-test it in a sink or basin.
- Age2 to 6 years
- Time15 to 30 minutes
- EnergyCalm
- CostFree
- WhereIndoors
- PrepNone
Fold a single sheet of newspaper into a hat, then refold it into a boat, and put it to the float test in a sink or basin of water. The making and the testing are equally engaging for young children.
How to do it
- Open a full broadsheet newspaper page flat (or two tabloid sheets overlapped). Double-page spread gives a sturdy boat.
- Fold the sheet in half from top to bottom. With the fold at the top, fold the top-left corner down to meet the centre fold line; repeat with the top-right corner to form a triangle hat shape with a wide brim at the bottom.
- Fold up one brim layer along the front, crease firmly. Flip over and fold up the other brim layer along the back to match.
- You now have a newspaper hat. Let your child try it on if they like.
- To turn it into a boat, open the hat from the two open ends, flatten it into a square, then fold the bottom point up to meet the top point on the front; repeat on the back. Pull the two side points apart gently to open the boat shape.
- Fill a sink or basin with a few centimetres of water. Float the boat. Let your child load it with small light cargo (small dry leaves, a button, an eraser) and watch how much it holds before sinking.
What you need
- Newspaper
- Sink or bowl
- Small cargo objects
Signs it is working
Your child is engaged during the folding steps even if they can't do them yet: watching the sequence holds their attention. They add cargo to the floating boat and observe what happens. They want to make a second boat to test against the first
If it is not quite clicking
Folding steps are confusing: Do it slowly and narrate each fold out loud ("fold here, crease there"): young children often track better when they hear the sequence. Boat sinks immediately: Check that the base folds are creased firmly and that water isn't pooling in a gap at the bottom seam; a second layer of newspaper (fold two sheets together from the start) makes a more water-resistant boat. Newspaper isn't available: A sheet of A3 paper or a page from a glossy magazine works, though newspaper is more traditional and more water-tolerant.
Make it yours
Younger, 2-3 years: Parent folds the whole boat; child's job is the float test and cargo loading. The sinking-when-overloaded moment is very satisfying for this age. Older, 5-6 years: Show the hat step first and let the child wear it, then teach the boat transformation as a "secret trick." Older children can attempt the folding steps themselves with guidance. Extension: Make two boats, race them by blowing gently; or add a mast from a toothpick and a paper sail.
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