pirate boats

[marymoocow]

Been given the task of finding a way for 6-8 yr old boys to make a pirate boat. Have thought of silver trays with a mast in it but wondered if anyone had any other ideas which will probably be better?

Thanks

big cardboard boxes. Lots of kitchen roll holders stuck together for a mast.
Or if its not for them to be 'in' Small cardboard boxes, with cardboard shapes stuck to the side, less kitchen roll holders for mast!!!

Does it have to be seaworthy?

We make these at scouts with cardboard boxes cut down and straws (cut 4 snip into one end and fold outwards to make a bit you can stick down) for the mast with paper sails which can have patterns of pictures drawn on. You can use lolly sticks stuck to the outside and painted to give a more wood like effect.

Saw one on a tv art program made with a margarine lid with corks stuck to it which was waterproof ish and floated. Not tried it, but I've always found corks hard to stick and have to resort to supeglue on them in other projects. Same trick with the mast, snipped straw, sticky taped down, and then a plastic sail made from a carrier bag. It should float and if it sinks it won't disintergrate!

Gilly

Thanks for the suggestions. They need to be seaworthy as in the beavers sailing them in a bowl.
Will foward these ideas and see what response I get.

you need margarine tubs with blob of plasticine in the bottom to stick in a straw for a mast. and if you have a pound shop that sells paddling pools that might be better than a bowl, you can have races then

Thanks
We made them out of sponges, that the boys shaped, and poked a straw into for the mast, and used some foam for the sails. Floated really well in a paddling pool.