EM3050 Activity: Make an Earth Float
OBJECTIVES
Explore nature for natural materials. Use creativity and engineering skills to build an earth float for International Earth Day.
MATERIALS
There are a lot natural materials you can use! Some options include:
Dry pine branches
Bark
Fern fronds
Acorns
Fresh green shrub branches
Dry grasses
Grape vines
Dried flowers
Pine cones and other seed pods
Household Building Materials:
Clean cardboard
String
Twist ties
Glue
Paper or plastic plates
Paint
Tools (Some require adult supervision):
Drill
Box cutter/pocketknife
Pliers
Scissors
Garden sheers
Saw
ACTIVITY
-
Go outside and collect materials. (Note: Be sure to avoid bittersweet, poison ivy, and anything with thorns!)
-
Drill holes into the branches, as shown in the picture below.
- Build the float base. You can make a base as a triangle or as a square.
- Bind them together with grape vine and/or with cotton twine
- Build your earth float. Add more branches or large strips of bark for extra structure and stability.
- Add decoration. Use the drill holes to attach ferns and small branches to the float.
- Give your Earth Float a name and a story. What does your creation remind you of? A creature? A wave? No wrong answers! What message do you want it to bring down the river? To the world? Write down your message or story on birch bark or a leaf and attach it to your earth float.
- Take a photo and send it to us along with your creations’ name and story. On Wednesday, April 22, take your float outside and launch it on a body of water, such as a river, lake, or pool. (Young children shoul do this with adult supervision.)
Can’t get Outside? No water nearby?
How to build an Earth Float 2
- Collect materials around your home or building. Look for clean cardboard, plastic, metal - NON recyclable. Learn about your local recycling rules so you know what to use and what to avoid, such as dirty and smelly stuff, or chemical containers.
- Make your base. Use something that makes a platform: a sturdy plate, an old tray, some plastic pipes tied together. Paint it if you have paint.
- Build your creation. Add stuff to your base, using ties, string, yarn, or glue.
- Give your Earth Float a name and a story. What does your creation remind you of? A creature? A wave? No wrong answers! What message do you want it to bring to the world?
- Launch your float outside or inside. Make a river or ocean with a blue sheet or paint a big piece of paper or an old pizza box. Set your float in your “water”.
- Take a photo, tell your story and share it with us!
Share your photos, journal pages, thoughts, experiences, and/or feedback with us! Post on social media with hashtags:
#umbrellaarts #musketaquid #concordearthday #musketaquidearthday #earthday3050
Or email Caroline at caroline@theumbrellaarts.org
Special thanks to our Earth Month sponsors
