Floating Peep Boats - Science Activities for Kids

Grab your peeps and make boats to see if they float or sink. Science activities for kids evoke thought and hands on learning for preschoolers as they explore Easter science peep boats. This simple science activity for preschoolers is sure to be filled with fun but ultimately learning through the STEAM process.

It’s Easter which means that peeps are filling the aisles of the candy stores – while it’s tradition and some like them and some don’t. I’m over here seeing all kinds of fun science activities for kids happening with Easter peeps! This past week we decided to try our hand at the Floating Peep Boats Science activity. We were inspired by Fun Littles science experiment and decided to try it ourselves. As she states: “Float or sink science experiments are great fun and a fantastic starting point for kids to start exploring density and displacement. Today’s post will give you an opportunity to combine those concepts as well as others if need be { center of mass, wind movement, lift}.”

What you need for this simple Easter Science Activity:

Marshmallow Bunny Peeps
Toothpicks
Card Stock Paper
Scissors
Tape
Container for water

How to Assemble Floating Peep Boats:

Make triangle sails out of your card stock paper. (Variations given below.)
Using tape attach a toothpick to the sail.
Insert sail/toothpick into the peep.

Science Experiment for Kids:

Ideas/Variations:

Depending on your child’s age have them make sails out of different materials i.e. tissue paper, regular computer paper, fabric etc. Let them use their imagination.
Have a race while blowing your Floating peep boats with a straw.
Have your child place the sail at different spots on the peep.
Have your child make different size sails.

Hands on Science Activities for Kids

If you have been around me long enough, you know I’m an advocate of the STEAM process while learning. See more here if you aren’t familiar with Everything You Need to Know about STEAM. Hands on is where the science experimentation comes into importance!

Place your floating peep boats in a container of water and let them float, see which ones tip over, which ones stay a float, which ones move forward etc. We used a water table but you can use any container and add water for this science activity.

The process for STEAM Activities for preschoolers and their learning:

Investigate: Always let your preschooler/toddler/child investigate the materials on their own. This allows for a much smoother activity time. I’m not talking about letting them destroy the materials rather feel of the marshmallows, cut their own paper triangles etc.

Discover: Now let’s discover how we are going to make this floating peep boat and put it together. Every ounce of learning you can give to your preschooler go for it. Talk about the toothpicks and what they are made of etc.

Connect: We are making boats – talk about what other objects they know float, what do we need to have the boats float (i.e. water, marshmallow etc) connect the concepts and idea of the science activity to their world.

Create: Let them have the freedom to cut different shape or size sails. Let them stick the sail in the marshmallow peep at different spots.

Reflect: Now it’s time to TALK! Get them to talk by asking them questions. Such as…

Why did the floating peep boat float?
Which sail was the most stable for the boat?
Was there a certain shape or material used that didn’t work well for the sail?
Does it matter if the toothpick is in a different spot on the peep?
Explore wind by taking a straw and blowing on the boat to get movement.

TIP: The peep marshmallows don’t last terribly long in the water. They get soggy and mushy encouraging the kids to play after a short bit. So once you set your floating peep boats in the water be ready to observe the science activity right away with the kids.

Want to see more of our Science Activities for Kids through STEAM learning? Check out more here

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We are a husband and wife team, pairing our strengths together to teach our preschooler in the most fun and engaging way we possibly can. The mister is a high school educator at Northlake Christian school in Covington Louisiana and over the Innovation Center, which is all things STEAM. I am a SAHM that blogs pretty much everything we do in our little paradise, from what we eat, to where we travel to how we teach our little one. We hope you are inspired to incorporate STEAM into learning with your children.