Shoebox longship
Turn a shoebox into a Viking longship with a real sail, then test it in the bath.
A sail only works if it catches the wind. Testing yours in the bath teaches that in minutes.
What you need
- A shoebox or plastic tub
- A straw, stick or pencil for a mast
- Paper or fabric for a sail
- Tape and a bowl of water
How to do it
- 1
Tape the box seams so it holds water out for a few minutes.
- 2
Stand the mast in the middle, held with a lump of tape or plasticine.
- 3
Cut a square sail and thread it onto the mast.
- 4
Float the ship and blow gently, or fan it, to move it across the bath.
- 5
Add small stones as cargo until it sits low, and count how many it carries.
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