sailboat craft for kindergarten

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Published: Aug 23, 2022 by Birute Efe · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

40 Boat Crafts Kids Will Love To Do (Many upcycled crafts)

There are few things kids enjoy doing more than playing in the water, and boats take the fun up a notch. Whether building a boat that floats for the backyard kiddie pool or making one out of paper, boats are a fun part of every kid's summer play.

This summer, we have a great list of boat crafts for you to make with your children! These 40 boat crafts kids will love to do are simple and inexpensive, requiring only materials found around the house!

Kids will have a lot of fun building DIY boats and then seeing if they can keep them afloat on water.

Note: Add a little string to your boats so you can easily retrieve them without harming local wildlife, or avoid having sobbing children who want their boat back!

40 Fun Boat Craft Ideas For Kids

Make a boat from duct tape & sponges, origami paper boat, wax boat craft, pool noodle boats, shampoo bottle sailboat, diy cork sailboats, diy tug boat.

• Let's Build a Pirate Ship

Milk Carton Boat Craft

Walnut boat craft, popsicle stick boat crafts, tin pan boat crafts, mayflower ship, diy basket boat, egg carton boat, cereal box boat, soda bottle boats, bottle lid boats, easter egg boats, twig bundle raft, viking longboat, soap bar boats, balloon boat, happy sailing, me hearties.

Time for our favorite Summer boat crafts your kids will love to create and play with! Children can design their boats, make them, and then watch how well they float!

Kids are always looking for excuses to play in the water. These DIY sponge boats will keep your children entertained for hours. Kids will enjoy racing their boats and try tirelessly to sink them in the water. Making the boat is super easy! You will only need three things-- paper or duct tape for the sail, a kitchen sponge for the boat's base, and a skewer or a straw for the sail mast.

Cut the top two corners of the sponge. Push the skewer in the middle to make the sail mast. Make the sail from paper or duct tape. This boat is perfect for bathtime or outdoor play. Head over to The Craft Train to learn more about how to make these fun little sponge boats and many more summer crafts for kids!

Most paper boats are easy peasy and so much fun to make. You can create one with your toddlers during summer break and watch their eyes light up with joy! This boat craft only requires paper and paper folding skills!

Artsy Craftsy Mom has some great instructions on making paper origami boats and many other fun crafts for kids.

My kids love making wax boat craft . They are so much fun and easy to make! The best thing is they always float on water and never sink. You will need cheese wax, a toothpick, and paper to make the sails.

Sculpt your boat with the cheese wax. You can make little round boats. Stick the toothpick and make a sail out of paper. Your boat is ready to go on long adventurous voyages! Use your imagination and decorate your boat. This is a fun boat craft for younger and older kids.

This is a great boat crafts for kids. You can create your Pool Noodle boats with simple supplies you can easily get at the dollar store. You will need pool noodles, colorful straws, and foam sheets. Follow the fun instructions on making pool noodle boats by Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails.

Using a knife, cut the pool noodle into small round shapes. Insert the straw on the side of the pool noodle and make the sails out of foam sheets. Your super cool pool noodle boat is ready to float.

Note: Parents can help their little ones by cutting the pool noodle with a knife.

Bring out your creative spirit with these fun kids crafts. Make your own sailboat with a shampoo bottle. All you need is a bottle of shampoo, a straw, a stirrer, a piece of paper, elastic bands, and a wine cork or a piece of the pool noodle (to stick the stirrer in to use as a mast).

Make a hole in the wine cork, stick the stirrer in the middle, and use paper as a mast for the sailboat. Pink Stripey Socks has some great instructions on how to build a shampoo DIYtle sailboat , and you will also find other DIY boat ideas.

Cork sailboats are easy to make and float well on water. This kid-friendly craft is an ideal summer activity. These are the cutest and easiest boats you will ever make! You will find all the different materials you need around the house. You will need some corks, an elastic band, skewers, and paper.

Combine the corks with the elastic band and make a hole in the middle. Stick the skewer and make a pretty sail for your boat.

Go to Happy Hooligans to find out how to make a cork sailboat and other cool summer activities! Make as many as you want. Kids can share it with their best friend. These are great non toy gifts!

This boat craft is great for kids of all ages! Your kids will love building a boat that floats and moves. Make this simple self-propelled tug boat craft with materials around the house. You will need an empty butter box, popsicle sticks, a yoghurt container, and paint.

Place popsicle sticks around the sides of the butter box. Put the yoghurt container on top and tape it down. Paint your boat. Make a paddle out of a piece of plastic. Make slits in the paddle and inset the piece of plastic through them. Wind up your boat, and it's ready to float away!

Cardboard canoes are great entertainment for kids. Children can use the DIY canoes for a sailing role-playing game with friends and siblings. Kids can also load the canoes with their toys during pretend play and fly the canoe around the house.

Simply cut out a cardboard boat and use hot glue to stick the sides of the boat to the bottom piece and ends. Make oars of the boat out of toothpicks and paint your boat. You can add some extra decorations if you like. You can even put action figures inside the boat. Kids can race the boat around the house and have fun!

Let's Build a Pirate Ship

Ahoy, my maties! This is a fun-filled craft for all pirates fans. Sail away with this exciting pirate ship craft this summer. Kids will love making this exciting boat craft. You will need cardboard, masking tape, and a stick to make the ship's mast.

You can download a free pirate ship template from Red Ted Art here and start making your pirate ship today! Enjoy the day pretending to be pirates and explore the seven seas!

This is a fun summer activity for kids of all ages. Kids can engage in imaginative play with this easy-to-make DIY milk carton boat craft . It's cheap to make, and you can easily find what you need at home. Have your child engage in some exciting science facts about buoyancy while they make the boat.

Cut one side of the milk carton and paint it. Use a skewer for the sail mast and a cloth or paper to make the sail. Kids can even use their toy as a pretend sailor while putting it in a pond or a bathtub to make it float.

If you live near an area where walnuts grow, you're lucky! We have the perfect walnut boat craft for you. You can use this natural crafting material to create cute walnut boats with your friends. They are simple to make and will almost always float on water.

The fun thing is you can make two boats from one walnut! Divide a walnut into two and fill both with hot glue. Place a pipe cleaner in each to create a sail mast. Stick googly eyes to the sail and draw a smiley face with a marker. It's as simple as that! Your cute little walnut boat is ready!

Stay cool this summer with this fun popsicle stick boat craft. As a kid, I remember making these boats with rainbow-colored popsicle sticks. I now continue the same tradition with my children-- they really enjoy making popsicle stick boats.

Layer the popsicle sticks and glue them together. Stack popsicle sticks around the boat and use one as a sail mast. Throw your popsicle stick boats on a water table and have a boat race with all your friends!

Create a boat you will love floating in the river. This is a really easy boat craft that even toddlers can make without help from their parents. Don't worry about the mess kids will make. There won't be any!

Kids will only need a tin pan. I gave my kids one of my leftover baking tin pans, which was lying around the house. Kids will also need play dough and an ice cream stick for the sail mast.

Put glue inside the tin pan and stick a ball of playdough in it. Put your sail mast inside the play dough, and you are ready to take your tin pan boat out on a sailing trip!

How about a history lesson while you make these fun boat crafts for kids? Make a Mayflower ship , an English ship that brought the first pilgrims to America. Make an exciting little ship from paper plates, wooden dowels, and other materials.

Cut the paper plate in half, join it together, and use wooden dowels as sail mast and paper to make the sail of your Mayflower ship . This is a fun craft to make, and you can hang it in your kid's room.

Note: Parents can help their kids with the scissors to cut the paper plates.

This DIY basket boat is a classic for kids! They can create their basket boat all on their own with their endless imagination. My kids usually take turns sitting inside the boat and giving a push to each other as they sail away on an unknown adventure! Better yet, if you have two or more laundry baskets, kids can have an exciting boat race!

All you need is a small laundry basket and a brown paper bag to make the sail mast. Use party streamers to decorate your boat. Kids love playing with this real-life boat. All the kids can take turns giving each other boat rides.

This is a great idea for kids o,f all ages. Egg carton boats are easy to make, and you will only need a few things you can easily find in the kitchen. Take an egg carton and cut it in half. Insert one or two straws to make the sail mast, and you are done. Paint and decorate your boat.

The fantastic thing is they float effortlessly on the water.

Have a box of Cheerios lying around the house? We have a great boat craft idea and activities for kids that they can make from cereal boxes!

Cut out a rectangular shape from the cereal box and glue it together. Insert a skewer in the center and use newspaper to make the boat sail.

Kids will have a blast playing with their cereal box boats !

Create your soda bottle boat and show it to all your friends. I'm sure they will love it and want one too! Simply cut the bottom part of the bottle, cover it in beautiful wrapping paper, and use a straw or skewer for the sail mast and paper to make the sail.

Kids can make more than one soda bottle boat and race them against each other.

This is another great and simple summer crafts idea for kids. All you need is a bottle lid, playdough, and straw. Put some playdough into the lid and insert a straw. Use a colored sheet to make your sail.

Children will love making these cute little bottle lid boats .

This boat is a fun Easter activity for kids. Grab some plastic eggs, straws, play dough, and colored paper stock. Fill the eggs with play dough and insert the straw in the middle. Make a pretty sail out of bright-colored paper stock.

Kids can sail their easter egg boats on a pond or a tub of water.

Return to nature with these super simple twig bundle raft boat activities for kids. Plan a fun family day at the local park collecting sticks to make your boat. Once the sticks are collected, cut them to the same size, hem them together, and tie them up.

Make your sail out of a leaf and float it on water.

Kids can create their apple boats in seconds! It's super cool and easy to make. Just cut an apple in half, stick a skewer or ice cream stick into it and make a sail. Your apple boat is ready to float on water.

Note: Use clean water to float your apple boats so kids can have a delicious snack later!

Make a fun Viking dragon ship for kids to pretend play. To create your longboat, you will need rectangle and dragon-shaped cardboard cutouts. Glue them all together and make cardboard oars and seats. Decorate your Viking longboat and use it for role-playing with your friends.

Here's a cool idea, make dragon flames out of crepe paper and glue them to the dragon's mouth! Kids can also use their Viking toys as part of pretend play.

Soap bar boats are a great idea for a summer activity for kids. Children can make these easy boats by taking a soap bar, carving it into a boat shape, and inserting a small toothpick in the middle to make the sail mast.

Once your boat is ready, float it in a pond or pool. Head over to Teaching Mama to find out more about how to make awesome soap bar boats !

You can do much more with a balloon than just tying a string around it. To create your balloon boat, you will need a plastic container, balloon, straw, and rubber band. Punch a hole on one side of the plastic container, blow up your balloon and tie it to the straw. Insert the straw in the hole, and your boat is ready to float on water!

Read more about the balloon boat and how to make it on Life with Moore Babies.

Build boats and have fun with these boat craft activities for kids! Your child will have a great time creating and learning more about boats and how they float on water. Boat crafts are fun summer activities the whole family can enjoy!

Reader Interactions

Alyssa fowler says

August 25, 2022 at 4:33 am

Wowww i loved reading this the instructions were so simple. I tried many of these with my kids. Would live to read more posts like this one!!! It was fun and simple!!!! 🤗

Claudette says

October 09, 2023 at 1:20 pm

Great pictures and beautiful, fun projects to do. Thank you.

Csaba Nilgesz says

October 18, 2023 at 12:20 pm

Glad you like it Claudette!

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25 Easy DIY Boat Crafts for Kids: How To Make a Boat

Making boats with your own hands is a fun and creative activity for kids. You can find 25 easy DIY boat crafts for kids in our helpful guide, which will inspire you to make amazing boats with different materials and designs. You can choose from simple boat crafts for preschoolers, like a twig boat or a milk carton boat, or more advanced boat projects for older kids, like a self-propelled boat or an avocado boat. Each boat craft has clear and easy instructions, so you can enjoy the whole process and the final result.

Boat crafts are fun and educational. They teach kids about floating objects, tactile skills, and creativity. Try making a cork sailboat, a balloon-powered sponge boat, or a pool noodle boat race game to enjoy on water.

Some boat crafts are so cool that even adults will love them, like the 3D pirate ship craft that you can make with your family. The best part is that you can use common things like popsicle sticks, paper plates, and recycled materials, so you don’t have to spend a lot of money or waste resources.

Boat crafts are a great way for children to express their creativity, learn new things, and have fun at the same time. You can explore the world of boat crafts that float and see how happy your child will be when their handmade boat sails on water.

You can make paper boat art, paper plate pirate boat crafts that rock, and many more. Let’s start this exciting adventure and learn how to make a boat that will give you hours of fun and creativity. Boat crafts are a treasure chest of imagination waiting for you to open it!

1. How to Make a Twig Boat

Frolicking at the forefront of creativity, this alluring twig boat craft is the perfect nature activity for your kids! Collect twigs on a nature walk and use a glue gun to enable assembly into an imaginative boat shape. Yarn will securely bind the twigs together as you add a paper sail for that flare of finality.

Enjoyment awaits as each boat-building session ignites your kids’ imagination and immerses them in hours of eco-friendly fun! easy peasy

2. DIY Floating Milk Carton Boat

Splash into a creative summer adventure with these milk carton boats! Transform empty milk cartons into glorious sailboats or any imaginative floating craft your child desires. Enjoy all the thrills of crafting and learning about buoyancy on a budget-friendly activity. All that’s needed are some duct tape, washi tape, construction paper for sails, drinking straws, a hole puncher, and scissors – then let the fun begin!

Spark your kid’s curiosity as they put their creativity to work building and sailing their boats. Get ready for some splashy fun this summer with this amazing DIY project! raising whasians

3. Self-Propelled Boat School Project

Enthralling your kids this summer with a self-propelled boat craft is just moments away! Ignite their imaginations by transforming an ordinary margarine tub into a captivating DIY project. Gather the necessary materials, such as a yogurt pot, two craft sticks, super glue/hot glue gun, duct tape, acrylic paint, plus more, and begin your journey of fun steam learning.

For comprehensive instructions, head over to complete project details, where you can also discover the science behind this exciting boat craft – perfect for those sunny days ahead! red ted art

4. Make Your Own Paper Boats

Set sail on a sea of creativity with these fun and easy  boat crafts for preschoolers  that are perfect for little hands. Enthralling and delightful, discover the joy of makingan origami boat with this expeditious yet enjoyable tutorial!

All that’s needed to get started is a single sheet of letter-sized printer paper (8-½ by 11 inches), and you’ll be able to fashion a beautiful paper boat that floats on water. This classic craft project takes only 5 minutes to complete, making it ideal for those just starting in origami.

Follow the provided step-by-step instructions or view the quick video guide to become an expert at fabricating these magical boats within moments! one little project

5. Avocado Boat Craft for Kids

Marvel in the whimsical fun of this avocado boat craft! Enjoy a creative adventure with your little ones as you raid the fridge for avocados and make these adorable boats that float. Perfectly suited to imaginative play with small world figures like playmobil or sylvanians, let them sail around in a wading pool or bath while learning about buoyancy and weight-bearing.

All that’s needed are avocados, popsicle sticks, origami paper, and a low-temperature glue gun – get ready for some outdoor fun that literally tastes like summer! kids craft room

6. DIY Wine Cork Sailboat

Fantastic! Set sail with this fun and creative wine cork sailboat craft for kids. An ideal craft for a breezy spring day, these wine cork sailboats are simple to make with only a few supplies: wine corks, a serrated knife, toothpicks, and scrapbook paper. Spend quality time crafting together, or let the races begin – either way, your children will love playing with their creations!

Don’t let those old wine corks go to waste; launch them into an exciting new adventure and watch as they soar in the sea of possibilities. premed it

7. DIY Balloon Powered Sponge Boat That Floats

Marvelously craft a unique and educational DIY toy with a steam twist by makinga balloon-powered sponge boat! Amaze your kids as the balloon expels air underwater, energetically propelling the boat forward in the water. This enjoyable project requires only a kitchen sponge, a balloon, a small piece of plastic tubing, a protractor, a ruler, scissors, and a pencil. It’s an ideal way to engage young minds while allowing them to improve their measuring skills.

For testing purposes, fill any paddling pool or bathtub with water, and you are ready for some fun learning activity! A perfect activity for a playful yet informative day! the craft train

8. Make a Twig Boat

Craft a simple twig boat with your kids using only natural elements! Explore the outdoors and gather some long pieces of grass or monbretia leaves, some similar-sized sticks, fallen flowers, and a leaf. No glue or string is needed – use these free materials to make an enchanting twig boat for outdoor play and exciting water adventures.

Bring joy to you and your children as you immerse yourselves in nature crafting without spending a penny! family budgeting

9. Easy DIY Mini Sailboat

Build your own vessel with these simple and affordable  DIY boat projects that are perfect for all skill levels. Embark on a DIY nautical adventure with this fun and straightforward paper plate sailboat craft! Gather your materials, including paper plates, craft sticks, toilet paper rolls, paint, glue, scissors, and more. Follow the clear instructions to cut the plate in half before trimming its curved bottom. Assemble into a boat shape, then add vibrant colors using paint.

Make a sail from square or rectangular pieces of paper – remember to decorate it with stickers and buttons for an extra creative touch! With this delightful kids’ craft, set off on imaginative journeys that will make waves! firstpalette

10. Making Small Popsicle Stick Sailboat

Amaze your kids with a nautical adventure of crafting this DIY popsicle stick sailboat! You can construct vibrant sailboats that float in the water with only a few basic supplies like popsicle sticks, wine corks, milk cartons, wooden skewers, and a glue gun. Start by assembling the base by gluing the popsicle sticks together and attaching a vivid sail crafted from paper and skewers.

Securely add wine cork to the rear for stability, and use an empty milk carton or jug to make a hull for extra buoyancy. Give wings to your imagination with this fun-filled kids’ craft activity! creativejewishmom

11. Handmade Paper Plate Boat

Aye-aye, intrepid crafters! Set sail on a voyage of creativity with this easy paper plate boat craft for kids. Crafting this paper plate boat will surely spark delight, perfect for the boat lover in your home or as an exciting classroom activity for toddlers and preschoolers. Begin by drawing a line down the center of the plate and cutting a triangle out of one side to form the sail. Personalize it with your favorite colors, then tear dark blue and white paper into strips to make cheerful ocean waves, which you can glue onto the boat alternately.

This craft is a great way to entertain and educate, perfect for any summer or transportation themed lesson plans! taminglittlemonsters

12. How to Make a Water Bottle Boat

From paper boats to wooden ships, these  boat crafts  are perfect for adding a nautical touch to your space. Marvel at the high-seas adventures your child can have with this fun and educational floating boat craft! Using easily found recycled materials like water bottles, duct tape, and cardboard, you can help your little one make mini boats that float.

Have them start by fashioning a small rectangle from cardboard before covering it in duct tape. Then they’ll need to attach two water bottles side by side on the bottom of the rectangle to form the base of their boat. They’ll then get to cut out a triangle for a fin or sail before testing its buoyancy in a container or bathtub full of water – remember adding some action figures or dolls too! pbs

13. How to Do Juice Box Boat

Set sail on a sea of creativity with these fun and easy  boat crafts for kids  that are sure to spark their imagination. Amazing creative summer fun awaits your kids with this easy juice box boat craft! Perfect for those hazy, hot days when escaping the heat calls for water-filled adventures.

You only need a few simple supplies – such as juice boxes, straws, tape, and paint – to make an adorable boat that will give your children countless outdoor playtime. Your boats will only be complete with their flags; we’ve covered you with free printable flags for every boat!

Whether it’s in the pool or bathtub, get ready to set sail with this crafty and entertaining ocean-themed activity! madewithhappy

14. DIY Popsicle Stick Boat

Embark on a fun-filled watery voyage with this easy and delightful popsicle stick boat craft for kids! Let their creative juices flow by adding a cute peg doll or simple sail to the boat. Hours of entertainment await in bathtubs, pools, creeks, lakes, and even oceans as they craft their unique boats from colored craft sticks, waterproof glue, and other materials. Not only does this activity spark creativity and imagination, but it also offers valuable stem learning opportunities.

Get ready to explore water play like never before with this amazing craft! rhythmsofplay

15. Simple Boat Craft for Preschools

Fabricate a fun and inventive boat craft for your preschooler! You can make an incredible boat with your little one using straightforward materials like a paper towel roll, egg carton, tissue paper, paste, paint, scissors, and tape. Start by painting the egg carton, then add tissue paper to the paper towel roll mast and glue them together to finish off the boat. This craft not just motivates imaginative play yet additionally advances environmental duty. Upgrade the encounter by perusing books!

Make sure to prepare your supplies so you can set sail on this creative adventure with your preschooler! notimeforflashcards

16. How to Make a Paper Boat Art

Enliven your summer vacation with this delightful paper boat craft! The printable template makes crafting a sailboat easy. Perfect for kids of all ages, including preschoolers, they will have loads of fun bringing this 3d effect sailboat to life using blue cardstock, construction paper in white and brown colors, plus a craft stick. Further, enhance the project by folding some ocean waves for an eye-catching ocean-themed summer activity that will captivate young minds.

Gather your supplies – pencils for tracing designs, crayons, and an extra-strength glue stick – and let the creative adventure begin! iheartcraftythings

17. Easy DIY Pool Noodle Boat Racing Game

Unleash your inner artist with these unique and creative  boat arts and crafts  that are perfect for all skill levels.

Willing to boost the fun of your kiddos this summer? Look only as far as office depot for all the supplies to build boats out of pool noodles! With just a few simple materials – pencils, colorful tape, foam board, scissors, and a hot glue gun – you can give your little ones hours of outdoor fun while encouraging their creativity. All that’s left is to fill up a large plastic bin with water and let the boat racing begin!

Stop by office depot today for all your pool noodle boat racing game needs. seevanessacraft

18. How to Make Plastic Cup Pirate Boat

Pretend to set sail this summer with a fun and easy plastic cup pirate boat tutorial! Kids of all ages will adore crafting their boats – perfect for imaginative water play in the backyard. You’ll need some cups, straws, and colorful tape (like washi or duct tape). For an extra pirate look, add fabric & iron-on vinyl decorations. Assembling these vessels is super quick, too – no more waiting around to get sailing!

So grab your supplies and make some magical memories in a water table or any other fun-filled container. raegunramblings

19. DIY Paper Plate and Coffee Filter Boat

Embark on a fun and creative craft adventure with this paper plate & coffee filter boat! Ideal for both kids and moms alike, this craft is an excellent way to share quality time while encouraging creativity. Gather simple materials like small paper plates, paint, coffee filters, tissue paper, cardstock paper, school glue, and popsicle sticks – then your little one’s imagination will take off as they make their own boat.

It’s also perfect for celebrating columbus day with a fun-filled educational experience! gluedtomycraft

20. Paper Plate Boat Craft for Kids

Set sail for a creative journey with this paper plate boat craft – perfect for preschoolers and kindergartners. This easy summer activity combines painting, yarn threading, and free printable templates to make the cutest of sailboats with vibrant-colored sails. Paint two paper plates in shades of blue, cut and thread yarn through punched holes to construct your delightful ‘sail’, and use white, red & yellow cardstock papers as details on the boat.

It’s a fun yarn craft that helps kids develop fine motor skills while building seaworthy vessels. So it’s time to set sail! nontoygifts

21. DIY Boat Toy From Recycled Materials

Encourage creativity and imagination in young children with these fun and educational  boat crafts for toddlers .

Inspire creativity and build lasting memories with your kids by crafting these simple DIY sailboats from repurposed materials. A family outing to the waterside can instantly become an enjoyable adventure with these boats! In a few easy steps, you can customize them to your liking – no candles required! All that’s needed is scissors, tape, glue, twine, an empty juice box, and a drinking straw or stick.

Whether you have children or adults in tow for the day out – this activity guarantees fun for everyone! So don’t wait any longer – set sail on a memorable journey today! applegreencottage

22. Columbus Day Boat Craft for Toddlers

Glorify Columbus day with this effortless and entertaining accordion boat craft! All that’s needed is colorful construction paper, scissors, a marker, and glue. Rip the paper to fashion ethereal yet layered waves, then fold the boats in an accordion style for a 3d outcome. Embellish your creation with fluttering flags, sunshine rays, and “Columbus sailed the ocean blue…” to wrap up this special project. Not only is it enjoyable for kids, but also soothing and tranquilizing for parents. Get creative by crafting with your little ones – you’ll surely have a meaningful Columbus day celebration! allabouthope

23. How to Make Sailboat

Enrapturing your kids this summer with some awesome water play? Learn how to make DIY sailboats using basic materials like styrofoam packaging, self-adhesive color paper, and toothpicks or thin sticks. This easy craft project is perfect for keeping your children busy while they enjoy watching their boats float across the water. All you need are a few simple supplies and a bit of imagination!

Get everything ready quickly, and let them start crafting away — get set for hours of creative fun! applegreencottage

24. Paper Boat Art and Craft

Magnificently embark on a crafty adventure with this 3d simple paper boat craft! Perfect for the classroom, kids of all ages, including preschoolers and kindergartners, will adore makingtheir boats out of white, brown, blue, red, and beige construction paper. All you need are scissors and glue to begin this fun and creative summer craft – allowing imaginations to sail away as delightful paper boats come together.

Personalize each ship before putting together a magnificent display on the wall – get ready for an unforgettable crafting experience! easypeasyandfun

25. Rocking Paper Plate Pirate Boat Craft

Embark on an exciting crafting journey with this remarkable paper plate pirate boat craft. This activity is suitable for kids of all ages, from preschoolers to kindergartners to older children – and will guarantee a captivating experience. All required is a pirate boat template, paper plate, brown paint, and cardstock paper in black, yellow, and white colors. Unleash your creativity as you construct the perfect ship to sail the high seas.

So don your captain’s hat and join at ahoy there, young pirates! nontoygifts

26. 3D Pirate Ship Craft for Adults

Learn  how to make a boat  with these easy-to-follow tutorials and step-by-step instructions that will have you sailing in no time. Ahoy mateys! Get ready for an exhilarating crafting voyage with this fun and enthralling DIY 3d pirate ship craft!

Learn to make a boat with easy tutorials and step-by-step instructions. Sail away in no time! Ahoy mateys! Embark on an exciting crafting voyage with this fun and enthralling DIY 3D pirate ship craft!

So don’t delay – get set sail for some oceanic fun with this fabulous pirate craft today! bigfamilyblessings

Conclusion:

Boats are fascinating to children, and with these 25 easy DIY boat crafts for kids, they can create their own fleet of boats to sail the high seas (or the bathtub). From cork sailboats to juice box speedboats, there’s something for everyone in this collection of boat crafts. So why not gather your materials and set sail on a fun and creative adventure today?

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Preschool Boat Crafts

These preschool boat crafts are perfect for introducing young learners to both transportation and the letter “Bb”.

These hands-on activities not only unlock your child’s inner artist, but they serve as an engaging way to teach them about different modes of transportation and the alphabet.

So, prepare to set sail into a world of creativity, learning, and fun! Let’s dive right in and explore these exciting boat crafts.

These hands-on activities are an excellent way to familiarize your little ones with the transportation world and the alphabet’s letter “Bb”.

It’s more than just crafting; it’s a path to discovery, learning, and development. So, let’s set our compass and navigate through these fabulous boat crafting ideas!

How do these activities tie into the letter of the week?

As part of your “Letter of the Week” series, these boat crafts provide a fun and interactive way to familiarize children with the letter “Bb”.

When children make these crafts, the connection between boats and the letter “Bb” is an easy association for young minds to grasp.

Every time they see or think about a boat, they’ll be reminded of the letter “Bb”. This association can act as a powerful memory aid, helping children to recall and recognize the letter faster.

In turn, this promotes early literacy skills and paves the way for successful learning in the future.

Now that we've discussed how these boat crafts link the worlds of transportation, craft, and literacy, let's get into the exciting part — the crafts themselves!

Each of these projects is not only fun to create but is also skillfully designed to emphasize the core theme we're exploring: the letter "Bb".

Remember, the key objective is to make learning enjoyable and intuitive for our little ones. So, buckle up and get ready for some fun-filled crafting time ahead.

Fun Letter B Crafts

This  preschool boat craft  is perfect for your upcoming letter of the week lessons. You can also add it to your transportation and ocean units.  Homeschool Preschool

Ivory Soap Boats

Add a little science to your crafting time when you make  Ivory soap boats .  The Joys of Boys

Sailing Away: Homemade Sailboats

Explore wind speeds and waves when foam boats  sail away  in a pan of water.  What We Do All Day

Pool Noodle Boats

Don’t throw your noodles away at the end of summer. Use them to make  pool noodle boats  that can be used in the pool or the bathtub.  The Best Ideas for Kids

How to Make a Twig Boat

Gather twigs, leaves, and flowers on your next nature walk. You won’t believe how easy it is to use those items to  make a twig boat .  Family Budgeting

BOAT KIDS CRAFTS

This  boat kids craft  makes a great card cover or a simple piece of artwork to display throughout the summer.  Krokotak

Floating Popsicle Stick Boat Craft for Kids

These floating  popsicle stick boats  are another simple craft that uses supplies you can pick up at a local dollar store or craft store.  Hunny, I’m Home!

Rocking Boat Paper Craft with Video Tutorial

The video tutorial makes this  rocking boat paper craft  easy to assemble. Then, kids will want to play with it for a while.  Artsy Craftsy Mom

Rocking Paper Plate Boat

Here’s another fun  rocking boat craft  that uses a paper plate as its base.  Red Ted Art

How to make a self propelled boat craft from a magerine tub!

Your kids can make a  self-propelled boat craft  from a margarine tub with this tutorial!  Red Ted Art

Popsicle Stick Boat Craft for Kids

Preschoolers will love floating some peg dolls on these colorful  craft stick boats .  Rhythms of Play

Rocking Paper Plate Pirate Boat Craft

Ready for another rocking boat craft? How about this  paper plate pirate boat craft for kids ! It’s so cute.  Non-Toy Gifts

Cardboard Box Noah's Ark

Use a cardboard box to create a  Noah’s ark  that’s perfect for imaginary play.  The Craft Train

Coffee Filter Sailboat Craft

Here’s an easy  coffee filter sailboat craft  that’s easy enough for even your toddlers to create.  Look, We’re Learning

Let's Build Boats!

Add this  boat building STEM challenge  to your transportation theme. The kids will love it!  Pink Stripey Socks

Apple Boats

Fall is a great time to add apples to your lessons. Your kids will love making these  apple boats  that really float!  Here Come the Girls

Sailboat Craft

Whether your kids are dreaming of the beach or just need an afternoon craft to do, this  summer sailboat craft  is a great way to use old paper scraps and looks great on display.  The Best Ideas for Kids  

Easy Cork Boat Craft for Kids

These  easy pirate cork boats  are super cute and ridiculously easy to make! And, they really float!  Red Ted Art

Paper Plate Boat Craft

This  paper plate boat craft for kids  is a great way to have kids work on their fine motor lacing skills as they whip up a fun craft.  Non-Toy Gifts

Make a balloon powered sponge boat

Your kids will be so excited to create their very own  balloon-powered sponge boats!   The Craft Train

Make a sailboat out of a shampoo bottle

Make a sailboat  out of an old shampoo bottle. It’s a great way to recycle some household items.  Pink Stripey Sock

Cardboard Box Boats: Olympic Canoes

Cardboard canoes  are another great recycling craft. These are made with old egg cartons and strips of cardboard.  Here Come the Girls

And there you have it! An exciting exploration through the world of boat crafts, perfect for your preschooler’s exploration of the letter “Bb.”

These activities offer a unique blend of creativity, learning, and fun, transforming the way children perceive education.

Remember, it’s through such hands-on experiences that kids not only learn but also retain knowledge more effectively.

So turn those craft sessions into a voyage of discovery with these engaging boat crafts. Here’s to a world of learning that’s as vast and exciting as the ocean itself!

Tara is the brains behind Homeschool Preschool, where her journey from preschool and public school teacher to homeschooling mom of three fuels her passion for early childhood education. With a blend of expertise and firsthand experience, Tara’s writings offer practical tips and engaging resources to support families in creating meaningful learning adventures at home.

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So many adorable crafts!! Thanks for including me!

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Crafts by Theme

Crafts by occasion, crafts by season, crafts by age.

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Paper Plate Sailboat

Craft an easy mini sailboat using some basic materials— a paper plate, a craft stick, a toilet paper roll and some paper. Paint and decorate it into an awesome-looking sailboat. Make some paper people to ride in it too!

Featured Crafts

Paper Bowl Jellyfish

Supplies needed.

• Paper plate
• Craft stick or wooden dowel
• Toilet paper roll
• Poster paint, tempera, or acrylic paint
• Paint brush
• Crayons or colored markers
• Stickers, buttons, etc. (optional)

1 Cut a paper plate in half.

Fold a paper plate in half. Cut along the crease.

2 Trim off the plate's curved bottom.

Stack the two halves together. While keeping them aligned, cut a straight line 2½ to 3 inches from the plate's straight edge.

3 Assemble the boat.

Position the two halves facing each other so that they form a boat-like shape. Make sure that the edges are aligned, then staple or glue all four corners together.

4 Paint the boat.

Paint the boat with a water-based paint like poster paint, tempera, or acrylic.

5 Make a sail.

To make a triangular sail, you can start off with a square or a rectangular piece of paper.

a.)   Square - prepare a square sheet such as origami paper. Fold it diagonally in half to come up with a triangular sail.

b.)   Rectangle - begin with a rectangular sheet like A4 or Letter-size paper. If you used a small paper plate to make your boat, you may need to cut the paper in half for a smaller sail.

Fold one top corner of the paper down to meet the opposite edge, forming a triangle. Cut and discard the excess paper below the triangle.

6 Decorate the sail.

Use crayons, colored pencils or markers to decorate both sides of the sail. You can also put stickers or glue some paper cut-outs.

7 Glue a craft stick.

Unfold the sail and apply glue on all four sides of the square. Position a large craft stick or a wooden dowel along one side.

Fold the square again along the diagonal crease. Press on the edges to glue them in place.

8 Cut a slit on a TP roll.

About ¾" to 1" from one end of a TP roll, cut a slit just wide enough for your craft stick.

If you used a wooden dowel instead of a craft stick, make a small hole on the TP roll using the tip of a pencil. Make the hole just wide enough for the dowel to get through.

9 Position the craft stick.

Insert the bottom end of the craft stick or dowel into the slit or hole. Push until it touches the bottom of the TP roll.

The stick should fit snugly inside the TP roll's slit. If the slit is too wide, put tape around the craft stick to keep the sail steady and upright.

10 Put the TP roll in the boat.

Place the TP roll inside the boat. The roll should fit snugly. If it does not, glue the sides of the TP roll to the inside of the paper plate boat.

11 Add more detail.

You can further decorate your boat, if you like. Glue some buttons or foam shapes. To get your sailing theme going, make paper cut-outs of anchors, life savers, or flags. You can also draw and cut out paper people to ride on your awesome sailboat.

Though your boat looks all set for sailing, it is not made to float on water. Take it for a fun pretend sailing adventure instead!

Create a fabric sail.

Instead of a paper sail, create one from fabric. Choose a plain piece of fabric or a colorful patterned one. Cut it into a triangle and glue it onto a craft stick or wooden dowel.

Check out these crafts for ideas on for fabric decorating ideas:

• Bubble Wrap Prints
• Fruit and Vegetable Prints
• Potato Stamps

Paint a wooden boat effect.

For a wooden-looking boat, first paint the boat a light brown or beige color.

Once the paint is almost dry, use a dry brush to paint horizontal stripes in a darker shade of brown. Add very little or no water to the dark brown paint. Spread the paint a bit below each stripe so that it blends lightly with the background.

• Beach & Ocean Crafts
• Summer Crafts
• Transportation Crafts
• Crafts for 1st & 2nd Graders
• Crafts for 3rd Graders & Up

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Box Sailboat

Mayflower or Pirate Ship

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Paper Boat Craft (Free Template)

Download the free boat craft template and make this transportation activity for preschoolers. find step-by-step instructions and easy paper crafts on craftingjeannie.com.

Check out this Easy Paper Boat craft! Kids will love making it.

Get the  Free Boat Craft Template  below and you will be able to  make enough supplies for a group of 20 kids (or more!) with about 10 minutes of cutting .

Watch the Preschool Boat Craft Video to do this Transportation Craft.

Did you know that there are three ways a boat can move: manpower, wind and motor? Read all about them on Wikipedia.com .

Here’s What You Need

Here’s your ship craft supply list (This post contains affiliate links to the products mentioned. Read my  disclosure policy  for more information):

• Free Boat Craft Printable <— Get it Here!
• construction paper , colored copy paper , or colored cardstock
• glue sticks

Make this Paper Boat craft for Preschool while reading these Fun Books:

Step 1: Download and Print the Free Boat Printable

Download the Free Boat Craft Template . You will be stapling the template to sheets of colored paper to cut out the shapes.

Step 2: Staple and Cut Out the Paper Ship Craft Shapes

Once you have the print outs, staple them to construction paper and cut out the shapes you need.

Note: If you want to make this craft with a group of kids, you can staple the template to up to 10 sheets of copy paper, 5 sheets of cardstock or 5-8 sheets of construction paper.

So, did you know that you can staple together 10 pieces of copy paper and cut out 10 shapes at a time?! That’s my  SECRET  to fast & easy crafting. Stapling the paper is very important because it makes sure it doesn’t move as you cut. The more staples the better. Cardstock is the thickest so you may only be able to cut 5 sheets at a time.

Tip: While you’re cutting, if you cut off all parts of the pages that have staples, make sure to re-staple the sheets that are left.  Whenever you’re cutting multiple sheets at a time, make sure they are always stapled together!

Step 3: How to Assemble

I recommend having a finished boat so the children can see what the final version will look like.

• Glue the wheel house behind the top of the boat.
• Glue the white window onto the wheel house.
• Glue the life preserver ring onto the boat wherever you like.
• Next, glue the colored circle into the center of the li.
• Optional: Glue the white pinstripe rectangle onto the body of the boat.
• Optional: Glue the anywhere you like on your boat.
• Don’t forget to write your name on the back!

Step 1: Glue the wheel house behind the top of the boat.

Step 2: Glue the white window onto the wheel house.

Step 3: Glue the life preserver ring onto the boat wherever you like.

Step 4: Next, glue the colored circle into the center of the life preserver ring

Step 5: Optional: Glue the white pinstripe rectangle onto the body of the boat

Step 6: Optional: Glue the flag anywhere you like on your boat. Don’t forget to write your name on the back.

And you’re finished!

This is a great Transportation activity for preschoolers. It’s also the perfect boat craft just for fun. Make it with your Preschoolers, Kindergarteners, Toddlers, Daycare, or as a craft at home.

More transportation activities for early years.

If you liked this craft, check out some of my other Transportation Crafts for Kids .

• Easy Rocket ship Craft – Make this simple outer space craft with your little ones.
• Easy Race Car Craft – This car craft is super easy and super fun.
• Train Craft – The train lover in your family is going to love this fun train craft
• Preschool School Bus Craft – Get ready for back to school with this simple school bus craft
• Airplane Craft with Free Template – This airplane let’s your little one’s imagination soar.
• Preschool Fire Truck Craft – Talk about community helpers with this fire truck craft.

As always, I try to make my crafts fast, easy & inexpensive. Enjoy! 

Download the Free Boat Craft Template

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Paper Boat Craft with Free Template – Transportation Activity for Preschoolers – Easy Paper Crafts for Kids

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Easy Boat Crafts For Kids To Make

Boat crafts are great for many different reasons. You can use them to teach about sinking and floating, to teach the letter B, and to work on following directions.

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Easy Boat Crafts

Whether you are looking for something educational, a way to build fine motor skills, or just a fun craft to do, these boat crafts are fun and easy for kids of all ages.

Preschool Boat Craft

The Inspiration Edit

The cool thing about this boat craft is that kids can actually watch it float. Be sure to use cold water as warm water will make the glue melt.

Twig Boat Craft s

Easy Peasy And Fun

Nothing beats a real homemade boat. But, if you can’t go full-scale, you can start out small scale with this twig boat craft.

Pool Noodle Boats

Our Family Of Seven

Pool noodles float which means these pool noodle boats are perfect to make for pool time fun. So make these boats and watch them float.

Kids Craft Milk Carton Boat

Raising Whasians

This is an old school milk carton boat. I remember making these back when I was a kid. The best thing is that they really float.

Egg Carton Boat

from Wu Jur

If you use a cardboard egg carton, keep in mind it won’t be able to float. If you want to be able to use it in the water, consider the styrofoam cartons.

Easy Pirate Cork Boat Craft

Red Ted Art

There is never a need to feel any kind of way about drinking wine. This is because you can use those wine corks to create a fun boat craft with your kiddos.

Juice Box Boats

The Joy Of Boys

Kids love juice boxes, but instead of throwing them in the trash, you can recycle them into boats. You won’t want to put these bad boys in the water, though.

Milk Carton Boat Craft s

Fun Crafts Kids

Here is another milk carton boat craft idea. I love how kids can add little sailors to their boats.

Handmade Boats

Using real wooden sticks to create this boat is a great way to teach real life survival skills. It may not be exactly what you would do in real life, but it can give kids an idea.

Margarine Tub Tug Boat

Not ever sure what to do with those margarine tubs? Other than turn them into Tupperware bowls, you can make them into boats that actually float.

Popsicle Stick Boat

Crafty Sticks

Popsicle sticks are literally my go to for any craft. You can pretty much make anything out of them including this super cute boat.

Easy Origami Boats

One Little Project

Origami projects are great at helping kids learn to follow directions and build their fine motor skills. Just don’t put them in water.

Paper Plate Boat Craft s

Arty Crafty Kids

A paper plate can make some fabulous ocean waves. This is a craft you can do after a story or with the song, “ A Sailor Went to Sea .” This interactive sailboat can actually move to the tune of the song.

Avocado Boat Craft

Kids Craft Room

Who knew the shell of an avocado could make such a super cute boat? It can even sail in the water.

Egg Carton Boat Crafts

Gingerbread House

Here is another egg carton boat. This would be a great one to do with the cardboard egg carton and then do the other one with the styrofoam carton. Then, you could do a sink or float challenge.

Paper Submarine

Crafty Morning

Get out those toilet paper rolls for this cute little submarine. Obviously this one will sink, so it’s just for decorations.

Cork Sailboat

Premeditated Left Overs

Cork floats so this would be another fun boat to make and play in the water with. Kids love making things they can put in water.

Balloon Powered Sponge Boat

The Craft Train

This is not only a boat, but a really cool science experiment. Get this boat going with balloon power! Kids will love this. Try different types of balloons to see which one works the best.

Easy Twig Boat

Family Budgeting

I don’t know about you, but kids always want to bring you weeds and twigs as gifts. Now you can have them make a fun little boat they can sail with their gifts.

These boat crafts are super great ideas to use as a sink or float lesson. You could make a couple different boats from this list and then have kids guess which ones will sink or float. Then, test them out.

Busy now? Why not pin this fantastic resource for later? Pinning supports my blog and allows me to create more content to help little ones learn. I’m truly grateful for any social shares.

About Angela Milnes

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👍 👍👍! Ideas I found about different kinds of boats for my toddlers group. Thanks 🙏

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Easy Sailboat Craft and Science Project for Preschoolers

This easy sailboat craft is the perfect activity for preschoolers learning about the science of air currents, wind and water.

Most young children love water play and this small scale boat activity is excellent for indoor water play . As part of a science lesson, preschoolers will make the boats, fill the "lake," and create wind currents to move their sailboats across the water.

Note: this post contains affiliate links.

Wood skewers, pointy ends removed, about 6 inches long

Paper, cut into approximately 3x4 inch rectangles.

Thin foam shapes

Deep baking tray

Drinking straws

Instructions

After reading a few preschool picture books about wind and sailboats (see suggestions below), it's time to make the sailboats.

Push the skewer through the paper rectangle so that it enters the paper about half an inch from the top and exits half an inch from the bottom. Adjust the paper so that it is slightly pushed outward to make the sail shape.

If needed, an adult can facilitate the insertion of the skewer by pre-making small holes in the paper sail.

Push the skewer into the foam shape so that it just goes through, but does not extend out the other side.

Fill the baking tray with water.

Float the sailboat on the water.

Blow through the straw directing the "wind" towards the concave side of the sail to move the sailboat around the water!

For extra fun, kids will enjoy making ripples on the surface of the water by blowing at the water.

Picture Books about Wind and Sailboats

Use these delightful preschool books about wind and sailboats to accompany the homemade sailboat activity.

I Am the Wind by Michael Karg, illustrated by Sophie Diao

Like a Windy Day by Frank Asch, illustrated by Devin Asch

The Wind Blew by Pat Hutchins

Lily Leads the Way by Margi Preus, illustrated by Matt Myers

Sheep on a Ship   by Nancy Shaw

Three Bears in a Boat by David Soman

MORE PRESCHOOL WATER SCIENCE IDEAS:

• Preschool Science Lab
• Water Refraction Science Experiment
• 3 Preschool Science Resources

First published 2008, updated 2023.

Reader Interactions

Stephanie says

April 16, 2008 at 1:39 am

I will file this one away... sounds like it just might be a successful activity around here.

Melissa says

April 16, 2008 at 2:57 am

Looks like fun! I used to let O play with water like this inside. Then one day she poured the whole thing on the floor and it quickly traveled to the lowest place in the floor (behind the refrigerator) and leaked through the ceiling. So now we have a water spot on our ceiling. Grrr. But maybe we'll try this using a little less water 🙂

August 07, 2012 at 3:04 am

Yay I'm filing it away too. Mine is just turning 1 and I get like 20 min out of giving him a ripe peach 😀

steuern und versicherung berechnen says

October 22, 2016 at 12:58 pm

Wonderful post!!! I love how you combine food and history, filling both my tummy and my mind. Great Combo!!! We have an organic butcher across the street from where I live and they make all their own sausages. I’ll have to ask them if they clean the bowels or buy them cleaned. I suspect they will be surprised by my questions or many not??? I also love the photos!!!

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The Craft Train

Crafty ideas for kids and parents

Boat crafts and activities

July 15, 2023 By Kate Leave a Comment This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no cost to you.

Kids are going to love this collection of boat crafts and activities ! There are STEM crafts, boats that GO, paper boat crafts, boats made from recyclables and nautical-themed art projects.  

Whether you’re looking for a preschool boat craft or are crafting with tweens and teens, there’s something for everyone here.

You might also like these  Summer crafts and activities

There’s nothing like a homemade boat to add fun to backyard water play. Kids love getting their hands and feet wet and DIY boats are a classic summer activity that everyone—adults included—can enjoy.

So, grab your imaginary sailor hat along with a hot glue gun, skewers, paper and recyclables and let’s dive into 20 DIY boat ideas that are sure to make a splash!

20 boat crafts and activities for kids

Boats made from recycled materials.

Got recycled materials on hand? Turn them into a boat. Plastic bottles, egg cartons, margarine containers and plastic trays all make a great boat base. And don’t forget about cardboard.

• A recycled cardboard box can become a Noah’s Ark for the stuffed animals to sail. Preschoolers will love this idea for imaginary play.
• These margarine tub paddle steamers by Red Ted Art are so cute. Wind them up and watch them go!
• Make a cardboard boat with a snazzy sail and mast, by Barley and Birch. This makes a great Summer decoration.

STEM boats that move and float

Combine the wonders of science, technology, engineering, and math with boat crafts that teach kids about buoyancy, propulsion, and design. Watch their eyes light up as they engineer boats that can move and float.

• Get out the hot glue gun to make straw boats that go with the power of wind.
• This simple DIY paddle boat is a great way to show propulsion in the water, by Little Bins for Little Hands
• Supply basic materials like foil and popsicle sticks and get kids to design their own boats with this Loveboat Engineering Challenge by The Preschool Toolbox
• Use a balloon to propel your boar through the water like we’ve done with our balloon-powered sponge boat
• Here’s another paddle boat design that works using elastic band power and a recycled plastic tray—genius! By Science Sparks

DIY Toy Boats

You guys know I love nothing more than DIY toy crafts—a fun activity that leads to hours of play afterwards. These DIY toy boats are no exception.

• Sponge boats with a waterproof duct tape sail are fun for water play. Perfect for preschoolers and kindergarteners
• How easy do these soap boats look? Love the LEGO man sailor! By Fireflies and Mudpies
• Nature is the key material used in these Rad Rafts from sticks. The leaf sail makes the perfect finishing touch. by Kidminds
• Love this super cute and easy pirate boat made from wine corks, by Red Ted Art
• You can’t go past twigs as a raft-building material! These twig boats with a paper sail are by Easy Peasy & Fun

Paper boat craft ideas

Almost everyone has paper at home! Here are some boats that use paper as the key material.

• Create a paper mosaic sunset boat scene using our printable template. 
• This Margarine tub boat has been decorated with paper to make a cute summer decoration, by Crafts By Amanda
• Kids are going to love making a paper boat that rocks like this one from Artsy Craftsy Mom
• This freestanding paper boat is by Kids Love Craft
• Here are some classic origami boats to add a splash of colour to your day, by Easy Peasy & Fun

Arty boat ideas

Here are some nautical ideas for getting arty! 

• Love the handprint sails on this Mayflower boat craft , by Simple Everyday Mom
• Make a paper plate boat craft that rocks and have your little artist decorate it, like this one from J Daniel 4’s Mom
• These clay sailboats are super cute and give kids plenty of creative licence 
• Use geometric shapes to make a boat . This fun idea is by Mama Smiles
• Learn how to create a silhouette boat scene with this art tutorial by Arty Crafty Kids

I hope you’re feeling inspired to get boat-building! Which idea are you going to try first?

You might also like

• Here are over 50 DIY toys for kids
• Celebrate summer by making one of these Ocean Craft ideas
• Learn about snakes and lizards with these 20 Reptile Crafts
• Keep kids entertained outside with these Outdoor Crafts and Activities

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I’m basically a big kid who never grew up and still loves to muck around with paint, glitter, glue and toilet rolls. With the crafts shared here on this website I’m hoping to give other parents and carers inspiration to get crafty with their kids at home – make our projects, or use them as a source of inspiration to spark ideas of your own. When it comes to crafting no rules apply!

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Sailboat Craft - Easy Kids Activities

By Damjana Jakos • Last updated on Aug 13, 2022 • This post may contain affiliate links.

See how to make a styrofoam boat that floats. This easy sailboat craft is perfect for kids during the summer. An easy and fun summer craft project your kids will love to do, and might extend into hours of water play fun! Check it out here.

If you are looking for fun kids activities, check out these too:

• Making Bubble Snakes – So Much Fun!
• How to Make Easy Diy Paintbrushes - Quick!
• Diy Paper Bookmarks - Made By Kids!
• Water Walking Experiment For Kids

Check out this easy sailboat craft that kids can do to make diy sailboats out of styrofoam packaging. A great water play idea for the summer your kids will love!

Diy Sailboat Craft

To ensure these boats will float, we used some styrofoam packaging we got a few weeks ago. It's a great water play idea for the summer, and our kids love it. Yours will too! These DIY sailboats don't take a lot of time to make, and you probably have all the supplies at hand already:  

Supplies For Sailboat crafts:

Gathering your supplies will be quick - you only need these:

• a few pieces of styrofoam packaging
• a few pieces of self adhesive vinyl-coated color paper (the vinyl coated type will last longer!)
• toothpicks or thin sticks

How To Make An Easy Sailboat - Tutorial:

1) Cut an equilateral triangle from the self-adhesive vinyl-coated paper in the desired color.

Fine motor skills task for kids: cutting. If kids will be cutting these triangles, you can first draw them on the backside of the paper sheet.

2) Peel off the backing and tape the color paper around the toothpick, leaving the bottom third of the toothpick exposed. Here's your sail.

3) Stick the toothpick into a piece of styrofoam and here's your sailboat for hours of water play!

Totally easy and quick. You can make tons of them, depending on the number of players and the number of styrofoam pieces.

A great way for kids to have races - either in a giant bucket or a water table, it will always mean tons of fun for the summer!

Not only are these styrofoam boats easy to make, they float, too!    

It is not necessary to have a backyard for this kind of water play. At first, we simply used our kitchen sink, and it worked perfectly. one piece of advice, however: if you are about to set up the water play in your kitchen, make sure to have a towel at hand, to easily take care of any spills.

Hours of fun and play for your kids!

Once finished, they went to play with this diy masking tape racetrack we built on the floor a few days ago (again!)

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20 Boat Craft Ideas – Summer Fun!

Time for our Boat Craft Ideas for Summer ! Boats are a wonderfully fun activity for kids to take part in. The perfect Kids Crafts theme for the great outdoors. Learn how to make a boat today.

DIY Boats: Design them. Make them. Then see how well they float! Lots of Summer Crafts fun for kids.

To me, making boats are all about “childhood memories”. I hope my kids look back one day, and remembering that time we made the boats and how well they floated…

You can make boats out of a surprising amount of different things – the humble Paper Boat (which we LOVE), margarine tub boats, crafts stick boats! Your imagination is the limit. Check out what we have to share with you!

Note: if you do let them float outdoors, do add a little string to your boat, so you can retrieve them and not harm local wildlife! (or have sobbing children that want their boat back!)

Wonderful Boat Crafts for Kids

As mentioned of these boats are great for playing it water with, as they actually float! Others are meant more for decoration. But we will highlight this as we go along! You don’t need any special kits for these fun boat crafts today.

Learn how to make a Walnut Boat – super simple and so cute. We love them!

We then share our Self Propelled Tug Boats – they actually work. So fun.

We love this Paper Plate Boat – that actually rocks. Such a fun and simple activity for boat lovers! There is also a Submarine for you to enjoy too!

No boat craft collection is complete with out an Origami Boat! All you need is a sheet of paper to make this easy Paper Boat . The origami boat diy is a great introduction to origami for kids of all ages. It only needs some simple folds and creases that are easy for children to learn and remember. And once you have got the hang of this paper boat, you can make it any size you wish! And maybe even have boat races with it down a stream (but be sure to collect them again, so as to not pollute the environment!). (Oh and you don’t need special origami paper to make these.. any paper will do, when I was young, I even made them out of our bus tickets!).

Crystal Treasures has made some Deviled Egg Boats , which made me smile!! A yummy recipe for any boath themed party (actually, wouldn’t these be fun as part of a summer olympics party too?).

Juice cartons are great idea for boats, as they are already waterproof. Domestic Goddesque shares her crafts. You could almost make these on the go!

More DIY Boat Ideas

A while back we also made Egg Carton boats – and used the kids artwork to decorate the flags.

Me and My Shadow made some rafts using Craft Sticks . They look fabulous. I love these as they have “planks” like real boats. So good fun and no sealant needed!

Simple quirky little cork boats we made AGES ago. They were very much a spur of the moment “craft” – super easy and fun to make! These are so very fun to make and plat with. And they float really well. The sails may get a bit wet, so if you are worried about that, use leaves as sails or some scraps of fabric.

We love these Juice Carton or Milk Carton Boats – these would be fun for cardboard boat races, don’t you think?

Adorable little shell boat

We still love our Pirate Ship ! And it is much played with over 10 years later. This pirate boat has a very simple construction method and will last you ages!

A simple impromptu pirate ship for our playmobil.

Love these Sponge Boats ! So clever.

Laundry Basket Sail Boat Fun for rainy days!

Adore how fun these Ice Cube Boats are!

Stunning Papier Mache Boats – these are a bit more involved, and a great for older kids to have a go at. But don’t they look great?

Another simple wooden boat idea, are these Twig Boats – so pretty!

..or how about these wooden boats: Driftwood Boats . Older kids will love this lovely boat design.

Upcycled Croc Pirate Ships ! These float incredibly well and will resist those splish plashing waves the kids create. Also a great way to bring recycled elements onto your crafting area!

Another great recycled boat is this aluminium boat from Gift of Curiosity . It floats so well too!

Hope you enjoy the boat crafts and that you are inspired to look around you and see what YOU could make a boat from!

Looking for more wonderful Summer Crafts .. try these:

• ELEMENTARY AND BEYOND
• FAMILY – ALL AGES
• KINDERGARTEN

18 Boat Crafts for Kids to Make

Row, row, row your boat, and see if you can make it float with these boat crafts for kids.

What child doesn’t love designing, decorating and trying to float a boat a that they’ve made from scratch? It’s just one of those classic summer activities that every kid has to try!

I’ve rounded up a collection of 18 boat crafts for kids to make this summer!  They’re easy and inexpensive, using materials you have around the home!

Your kids will love building these boats, and then the best part – seeing if they can set them afloat in a sink, pool or pond!

16 Ways To Craft A Boat

How to make a boat.

Duct tape and sponge boats – the kids will love floating these around the bathtub!

How To Make A Paper Boat That Floats

Float a  juice-box boat around the kiddy pool!  What a fun, little upcycling project!

Craft Boats

You won’t believe what these sweet little wax boats are made from!

How To Make A Paper Boat

Send the owl and the pussy cat off to sea in this cute, little pea green boat.

How To Make A Boat Out Of Paper

A childhood just isn’t complete without making a simple but  classic paper boat craft.

These  sparkly cork boats  are so easy to make, and they look so pretty!

Boat Crafts For Kids

A simple sailboat is fun to decorate, and makes good use of your recyclables.

Mayflower Craft

These mini-Mayflowers are the perfect for floating around in the water-table.

Make a self-propelled tug boat with a plastic container and a few simple supplies.

Older kids will love making and decorating these tiny cardboard canoes.

DIY Pirate Ship

Arrrr, Matey!  A sponge pirate ship makes bath-time fun.

Milk Carton Boat

Milk or juice carton boats are perfect for small stuffies to sail away in!

Walnut Boat

These adorable walnut boats would be fun for racing down a stream.

How To Make A Boat Out Of Popsicle Sticks

Personalize a simple paper row-boat complete with oars and all.

Homemade Boat

Make a tin-pan sailboat and watch it float down a tin-foil river!

How To Make A Cardboard Boat

This cardboard sailboat can be made in miniature or large enough for a little one to play in.

Basket Boat

A laundry basket sailboat provides endless pretend-play opportunities.

Pilgrim Boat

A paper plate ship can be easily decorated to suit any nautical theme.

Love These Boat Crafts? We Have Other Fun Summer Activities To Try!

Making paper boats are fun, but we also have other summer activities for kids!

Stay cool with these fizzing ice science experiments.

Looking for simple things to do in the summer? We got you covered!

We have 25 summer activities for preschoolers!

Wondering what to do when your kids are bored this summer? You’ll want to check out Camp Mom!

We have over 50 fun camp inspired activities for kids.

Sharks are a fun summer animal! We always think about them when we are out in the ocean and shark week! So enjoy these shark crafts for preschool kids.

You’ll love these cool crafts! They all involve ice!

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Preschool Boat Craft Using Popsicle Sticks

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Preschool aged kids are my favorite kids to work with. They are so curious, get excited about little things, and still have a joy of learning.

What I love about this preschool boat craft is you can use it to go along with stories like Maisy’s Sailboat or teach kids the letters of the alphabet using this b is for boat craft. There are so many directions you could take it. 

Not only is this a great educational tool that incorporates learning and engineering, but kids love watching their little sail boats float on top of the water. It’s an accomplishment they can hold with them all their life. 

And, it is super easy to make! Check it out, below!

Summer Crafts for Preschoolers

We all know preschoolers can’t stay busy for long. If they don’t have something to do, they are dumping the trash into the toilet, putting toothpaste in their hair, or just plain driving you insane.

If you like this boat craft for preschoolers, check out some of our other summer crafts to keep your preschooler busy:

• Preschool Paper Weave Ocean Sea Turtle Craft
• Beaver Skunk and Owl Craft
• DIY Rabbit, Bear and Hedgehog Craft
• Dog Crafts Kids will Love to Make
• Paper Plate Unicorn Craft

Supplies Needed for This Preschool Boat Craft

• Rainbow Boat Craft
• Rainbow craft sticks
• Plain craft sticks
• Hot glue gun
• Scrap book paper
• Paper straws

RELATED POST: DRAGONFLY CRAFT USING POPSICLE STICKS

How to Make a Boat Craft for Kids

Lay a row of colored craft sticks side by side to make a rainbow.

Cut two plain craft sticks in half and glue three of the halves to the back of the rainbow boat base.

Add another two craft sticks to the back of the boat going lengthwise.

Cut a triangle out of scrapbook paper and punch a hole in the top and bottom.

Cut a paper straw in half and slide the paper triangle onto the straw.

Place a mound of hot glue on the top of the boat and stick the straw into the center of the mound. Hold the straw in place until the glue dries.

Your boat craft is now ready to enjoy!

Tip: Use cold water when playing with the boats. Hot water will melt the glue, causing the boat to fall apart.

This is a tutorial on how to make a boat craft using popsicle sticks.

Instructions

20+ SAILBOAT CRAFTS FOR SUMMER

OCEAN THEMED ELMER’S SLIME RECIPE

Angela Milnes is a  Qualified Early Years Teacher  who has specialised in Preschool and Kindergarten teaching. She has a wealth of experience teaching young children and is passionate about kids crafts and having fun as a family. Angela has also taught cooking skills and loves to share both family recipes and easy crafts here on The Inspiration Edit. Follow her on  Pinterest !

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Sponge Sailboat Craft for Kids

Temperatures sure are rising so if you are in a search of a fun activity to cool with this sponge sailboat craft is just a thing to do with the kids.

These are not only fun to make, they are also extremely fun to play with. Your kids will be able to play with them in a tub of water or have a sailboat race in the nearby stream.

What you need Sponges -Used Ocelo brand, and they were 4.5″ x 3″ x 1/2″ Wood Skewers -used 8″ skewers but 12″ is fine construction paper scissors wire cutters glue

Trim your sponges with scissors. Green was trimmed in thirds Pink & Yellow cut in half Purple cut in half lengthwise (see notes)

For the Green sponges, I cut the skewer with the wire cutter to about 5.5″ in length. For all other sponges, I used the full size, 8″ skewer.

Create sails buy cutting triangles out of construction paper. If desired, Fold a small piece of construction paper in half and cut a triangle out on the fold. Glue the fold together on the top of the skewer.

Poke the skewer into the sponge so that it goes through the other side at least 1″. Remove the skewer. Poke a hole at the top of the construction paper triangle, along the long edge, and poke the skewer through the paper. Keep the skewer about 1/2″ to 3/8″ from the edge of the paper. Your sail does not have to be taunt on the skewer, it can bend.

Push the skewer with the sail through the hole in your sponge. Adjust the sail as necessary and sail away.

To sail. Place the boat into the water and let the sponge absorb water before letting go. You’ll need to adjust the skewer up and down through the sponge and adjust the sail for optimal sailing.

Note: They all tipped over at some point. And the sails got wet. But they still worked fine. It works best if the skewer pokes through the bottom of the sponge about 1-2″. Clearly you can experiment with this! The purple boat was the worst. Two masts and it never did officially stand up! It kept toppling over. You may want to omit, unless you have a determined child in the group.

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1 thought on “Sponge Sailboat Craft for Kids”

Great idea! Fun and easy. Using for my Toddler Sunday School class in telling the story of Paul and his ship wreck…so I hope the boat tips or sinks!

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Boat Themed Week Featuring Sail Away for Preschoolers

Published: Mar 12 · This post may contain affiliate links

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This week's theme for your Virtual Book Club for Kids is Boats.

We have picked to feature Sail Away by Donald Crews as the book and have put together a week of fun simple, low prep, easy activities for you .

These boat themed activities cover sensory play, learning and creating whilst your preschooler has fun!

So here you go our Week Plan for Boats featuring the book Sail Away by Donald Crews .

Find Your Activity Plan Here

Sail Away by Donald Crews Virtual Book Club for Kids Featured Book

We have included links to the books on Amazon. As an associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases.

Our featured book for Boat Week is Sail Away by Donald Crews .

In this picture book, a family heads out in their sailboat for a day. It's calm and bright but before long there are waves and the weather has changed all before they sail home.

With simple text and illustrations, it is fun to read together.

You can find more boat themed books after the activity plan below.

Weekly Virtual Book Club Plans

Get ideas for activities, crafts and recipes based on popular themes and featured books straight to your inbox each week to inspire you to connect and create with your children

Boat Activity Plan for Preschoolers

We have selected for you 5 simple activities on the theme of boats.

These include a sensory play idea that can be used throughout the week, activities focusing on letters and maths. A simple snack to make and enjoy with an art or craft to finish it off.

How you structure the week is a personal preference. But, here's what has worked for us at the Virtual Book Club for Kids.

A Week of Sail Away and Boat Themed Activities for Preschoolers

Have fun this week with a planned week of simple boat themed activities featuring the book Sail Away by Donald Crews for your preschooler.

Jar Lid Boats Water Play

Set up this simple water and homemade boat sensory play for the week and watch your preschoolers sail away in this tub.

Pool Noodle Alphabet Boat Matching Game

A fun and simple boat themed alphabet upper and lower case matching game for preschoolers.

Sailboat Potato Stamping Craft for Kids

Work on shapes for the math activity this week with some shape potato printing boats for your preschoolers to create.

Simple Kids Snack Ideas: Crunchy Apple Boats

Simple apple boat snack to make with your preschooler this week.

Create a Boat Making Station for Kids

Set up a creative station for your preschoolers and let them create their own boats and test them to see if they will float or sink.

More Boat Activities on our Pinterest Board

Looking for more ideas for boat themed fun this week then check out our Pinterest board with ideas for boat themed fun for your preschooler.

Click below to head to the board and follow our account.

Boat Books for Preschoolers

We have picked 3 other boat themed books for you and your preschooler to read together.

• The Little Sailboat by Lois Lenski
• Boat Book by Gail Gibbons
• Busy Boats by Tony Mitton

Next Week on The Virtual Book Club for Kids

Next week's theme for the Virtual Book Club for Kids is Airplanes and the featured book Maisy Goes on a Plane by Lucy Cousins .

More Transportation Themed Activity Plans for Preschoolers

• Train activity plan for preschoolers.
• Freight Train by Donald Crews themed plan for preschoolers .
• Polar Express and Train themed Activity plan for preschoolers .

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