Gift for the Indians

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Students learn about "appreciation" and make something to give someone else.

OBJECTIVE

Students will:

1. Construct a miniature Mayflower that will float in a clear plastic cup filled half way with water and 3 drops of blue food coloring.

MATERIALS

1. 40 empty walnut half-shells
2. 40 little balls of Plasticine Clay, 1/2" in diameter
3. 40 toothpicks
4. 40 1"X 2" rectangles of wax paper
5. 40 4oz clear, hard plastic cups
6. blue food coloring

SET UP AND PREPARE
Divide the above materials into sets for each table group. Cafeteria trays are good for transporting each set to the tables. Have containers of water ready.

DIRECTIONS
We will make a miniature or model of the Mayflower in an ocean. We will give it to the Indians as a token of appreciation or a "thank you" for being our friends and showing us how to survive our first year in America.

Step 1: Give each student a half walnut shell, a ball of Plasticine Clay, a toothpick and a wax paper rectangle.

Step 2: Put Plasticine Clay ball inside walnut shell.

Step 3: Construct a sail by poking the toothpick through wax paper sail 2 times.

Step 4: Stick the toothpick mast and sail into the Plasticine Clay.

Step 5: Fill cups half way with water. Add three drops of blue food coloring.

Step 6: Float boat in the cup. Show students how to carefully set the boat in the water. If it sinks, it's the Speedwell. If it floats, it's the Mayflower.

Repeat steps 1-6 so that each pilgrim can take home a Mayflower ship and ocean for themselves. (You may want to let them put their own water into the cup at home.)

LESSON EXTENSION
As a class, write an appreciation letter to the Indians for all they have done to help the pilgrims survive their first year.

ASSESS STUDENTS

• Can students build a boat?
• Can they make it float?
• What adjustments do they need to make in order for it to float?
• Can they make the correlation to a sinking boat and change the Speedwell into the Mayflower?

ASSIGNMENTS

1. Make boats out of different materials (paper, clay, wood, etc.).
2. See how many paper clips they can hold before they sink. Graph results.
3. Discuss does shape matter? What about the material used?
4. Draw conclusions and write a group story of what makes a good boat!

EVALUATE THE LESSON

• Can students make a boat that floats?
• Do they understand a "token of appreciation"?

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