sponge sailboat craft

Sponge Sailboat Craft for Kids

Temperatures sure are rising so if you are in a search of a fun activity to cool with this sponge sailboat craft is just a thing to do with the kids.

These are not only fun to make, they are also extremely fun to play with. Your kids will be able to play with them in a tub of water or have a sailboat race in the nearby stream.

What you need Sponges -Used Ocelo brand, and they were 4.5″ x 3″ x 1/2″ Wood Skewers -used 8″ skewers but 12″ is fine construction paper scissors wire cutters glue

Trim your sponges with scissors. Green was trimmed in thirds Pink & Yellow cut in half Purple cut in half lengthwise (see notes)

For the Green sponges, I cut the skewer with the wire cutter to about 5.5″ in length. For all other sponges, I used the full size, 8″ skewer.

Create sails buy cutting triangles out of construction paper. If desired, Fold a small piece of construction paper in half and cut a triangle out on the fold. Glue the fold together on the top of the skewer.

Poke the skewer into the sponge so that it goes through the other side at least 1″. Remove the skewer. Poke a hole at the top of the construction paper triangle, along the long edge, and poke the skewer through the paper. Keep the skewer about 1/2″ to 3/8″ from the edge of the paper. Your sail does not have to be taunt on the skewer, it can bend.

Push the skewer with the sail through the hole in your sponge. Adjust the sail as necessary and sail away.

To sail. Place the boat into the water and let the sponge absorb water before letting go. You’ll need to adjust the skewer up and down through the sponge and adjust the sail for optimal sailing.

Note: They all tipped over at some point. And the sails got wet. But they still worked fine. It works best if the skewer pokes through the bottom of the sponge about 1-2″. Clearly you can experiment with this! The purple boat was the worst. Two masts and it never did officially stand up! It kept toppling over. You may want to omit, unless you have a determined child in the group.

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1 thought on “Sponge Sailboat Craft for Kids”

Great idea! Fun and easy. Using for my Toddler Sunday School class in telling the story of Paul and his ship wreck…so I hope the boat tips or sinks!

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The Craft Train

Crafty ideas for kids and parents

sponge boat craft DIY toy for kids

June 27, 2023 By Kate 5 Comments This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no cost to you.

Make an easy sponge boat craft DIY toy for kids! These cute kitchen scourer boats with duct tape sails are perfect for hot Summer days or even just for bath time play. My girls loved playing with these outdoors, even though the day we made them was cold and grey.

This craft was originally published in 2013 and has been updated and republished for todays audience.

You might also like our Summer Fun Bucket List – over 80 crafts and activities for kids to enjoy over Summer!

This sponge boat craft was something we made when my girls were preschoolers. I designed them as a DIY toy for bath time, but the minute they laid eyes on the finished craft bath time seemed way too far away. The sponge boats had to be played with immediately! 

We set up a large tub of water outside in the back yard and they girls had a lot of fun floating their boats on the water. Soon some plastic ponies came out to drive the boats, and the girls had fun experimenting with just how well they could stay afloat with a toy on them (it can be tricky with balance and weight).

The good thing about our sponge boats are the sails are waterproof. When the boats inevitably overturn, simply squeeze the water out and pop the sail back on and set sail once again.

Older kids could make these sponge boats themselves as a STEM craft, and then experiment with floating them on the water by creating wind with straws and having races. We have also made a balloon-powered sponge boat which is great fun for older kids too.

The sails on our sponge boats are made from duct tape. There are so many bright colours and patterns you can get with duct tape that you could really go crazy with them. Using what I had in the cupboard at the time ours are plain red, white and green stripes.

How to make an easy sponge boat craft

You will need:.

• Kitchen scourer sponges (or an ordinary thick sponge would also work)
• Craft sticks
• Duct tape in different colours
• Craft knife and cutting mat – note only an adult should use the craft knife
• Cut the tip of your kitchen scourer into a pointy end using scissors. It might help to rule lines on the sponge with a lead pencil first first so that it’s even.
• Using your craft knife, cut a small horizontal slit in the sponge for the mast (the craft stick) to be placed.
• Make the sail. Lay down a piece of duct tape, then stick a second piece of duct tape along side it also upside down but overlapping. The width should be approximately the same as the width of the sponge. Stick a second layer of tape down over the first, so that the sticky side faces down and the sail is smooth on both sides. Decorate with stripes of a different colour if desired, but this is optional.
• Use your craft knife or scissors to trim the edges of the sail. Make it a roughly square shape.
• Place two small pieces of duct tape around the craft stick mast at the top and close to the bottom where the base of the sail will sit. This helps to keep sail in place.
• Use your craft knife again to cut a small horizontal slit at the top and bottom of the sail.
• Thread the duct tape sail through the slits to make a curved mast.

And now… time to play!

• Craft knife - only an adult should use the craft knife
• Cutting mat

Instructions

• Cut the tip of your kitchen scourer into a pointy end using scissors. It might help to rule lines on the sponge with a lead pencil first first so that it’s even.

More DIY toys for kids

• Make a straw swing set for imaginative play
• This giant dice made from cardboard is so much fun!
• Turn kitchen sponges into sponge cakes for pretend play
• A coat hanger makes an awesome pom pom catapult
• Here are 50 DIY toys you can make from cardboard

July 10, 2021 at 12:57 pm

Hi Kate Would love to make these with my grandies next week when they come over What is the red duct tape stuck too….its a piece of white something (shown in the photo 4) which is used in conjunction with the duct tape to make the sail. Looks like it could be a paper towel although i’m not sure that would be sturdy enough to use but maybe it is Look forward to hearing back from you – Jan

July 14, 2021 at 12:04 pm

Hi Jan, that’s the sticky back of duct tape you see. So it’s duct tape stuck back to back.

July 8, 2023 at 12:01 am

But sponges don’t float–they absorb water and sink, don’t they? I would love to make these for my preschool class, but not if they are just going to sink.

July 8, 2023 at 6:08 am

Even soaked full of water, they still float, just not as high in the water. But they don’t get soaked unless you push them under the surface. Best way to tell if you’re happy with this activity is to put a scourer sponge on the water’s surface and see for yourself how well it floats before you make the boats.

July 9, 2023 at 12:29 pm

You’re right–they do float!

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I’m basically a big kid who never grew up and still loves to muck around with paint, glitter, glue and toilet rolls. With the crafts shared here on this website I’m hoping to give other parents and carers inspiration to get crafty with their kids at home – make our projects, or use them as a source of inspiration to spark ideas of your own. When it comes to crafting no rules apply!

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Sponge Sailboat Craft for Kids

Temperatures sure are rising so if you are in a search of a fun activity to cool with this sponge sailboat craft is just a thing to do with the kids.

These are not only fun to make, they are also extremely fun to play with. Your kids will be able to play with them in a tub of water or have a sailboat race in the nearby stream.

What you will need Sponges -we used 11.5x9x1.5 ( 4.5″ x 3″ x 1/2″) Wood Skewers -used 20 cm or 30cm are fine as well (8″ skewers but 12″ is fine) construction paper scissors wire cutters glue

Trim your sponges with scissors. Green was trimmed in thirds Pink & Yellow cut in half Purple cut in half lengthwise (see notes)

For the Green sponges, We cut the skewer with the wire cutter to about 5.5″ in length. For all other sponges, we used the full size, 8″ skewer.

Create sails buy cutting triangles out of construction paper. If desired, Fold a small piece of construction paper in half and cut a triangle out on the fold. Glue the fold together on the top of the skewer.

Poke the skewer into the sponge so that it goes through the other side at least 1″. Remove the skewer. Poke a hole at the top of the construction paper triangle, along the long edge, and poke the skewer through the paper. Keep the skewer about 1/2″ to 3/8″ from the edge of the paper. Your sail does not have to be taunt on the skewer, it can bend.

Push the skewer with the sail through the hole in your sponge. Adjust the sail as necessary and sail away.

To sail. Place the boat into the water and let the sponge absorb water before letting go. You’ll need to adjust the skewer up and down through the sponge and adjust the sail for optimal sailing.

(Thank you; easyoeasyandfun.com)

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• One of a Child
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DIY Sponge Boats

Day 19 on the 28 Days of Activity Calendar is… Sponge Boats! As promised, here is the full activity/craft in this blog post. But first, why did I decide to include these sponge boats in this calendar? Well, as the weather warms up, I know that kids start to love playing in the water. These sponge boats are fun to use in an outdoor kiddy pool, water table, or a bath.

Step 1: Make the sail. Cut the paper into a small triangle. Then cut two small slits into the triangle.

Step 2 : Insert the stick into the triangle.

Step 3: Push or glue the stick into the sponge and then Play!!!

Need more activities? Make an activity jar and use these 75 activities to come up with ideas!

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Sponge Sailboat

< back to Activity Directory

Math & Sciences

2.5– 6 years

Let your imagination sail.  Throughout the process of building and playing with the sailboat, this playful water activity introduces your child  to  basic  sailboat parts and sailing  concepts such as sailboat  b uoyancy ,   wind direction , and windspeed . 

• C ontainer  
• Dish sponge  (hull)  
• Wooden skewer  (mast)  
• Construction paper  (mainsail)  
• Coloured pens, pencils, or crayons (Optional)  
• Begin by cutting your wooden skewer (approx. 1 4 cm).  
• Create your   main sail by cutting a  right angle  from the construction paper.  
• Poke the skewer threw the bottom and top of your  main sail.  Your sail should be curved.  
• Place the skewer through the centre of the sponge  allowing it to protrude  through the bottom   ( a bout  1 cm ).  

Time to Sail

• F ill a container with water .  
• Place  your   sail boat in the water and let the sponge absorb  some  water before letting go.   Do not completely submerge the sponge.  
• A djust the skewer up and down through the sponge for optimal  buoyancy .  
• Take your sailboat outside and allow the wind to naturally direct its course.  

Increase the Fun

Decorate your sail with colourful designs and  i nvite friends and family along for a sailing race.  

Basic Sailing Terminology

• Hull:  The main body of the boat  
• Mast:  The large pole that attaches the mainsail
• Mainsail:  The principal sail attached to the mast
• Point of Sail:  The boat’s direction relative to the wind  

At Learning Jungle, we believe all children are capable, confident and full of potential. Co-learning empowers your child to take initiative. Encouraging  child participation and engaging in open-ended, thought-provoking conversation throughout play is important for healthy child development.

Conversations with your child

• W hat colour is your mainsail  going to be?  
• Would you like to decorate your mainsail?  
• Can you point to the ‘Mast’?  
• Which direction do you think your sailboat will go?  
• What do you think is making your sailboat move?  

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We currently have 51 locations in 5 countries. Our child care facilities offer tours throughout the year. We invite you to visit a location near you. 

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A Quick 16-Step Guide on Making Sponge Boats for Kids

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Seasons Ville

DIY SPONGE SAILABLE BOAT FOR KIDS

• Latrice Curtis
• June 17, 2021
• No Comments

Seasons Ville is here to make sure that you and your little ones don’t miss out on any of the memories that childhood summers are rightly known for! Whether it be splashing in the swimming pool or the everyday routine of playing pirate ninja in the bathtub, it is always a good idea to indulge in a super fun  activity with your kids.  If you’re looking to beat the heat with a crafty twist, we’ve got just the thing for you: DIY sponge boats! Not only are they widely loved by children, they’re also extremely fun and safe to make. So, the next time you inflate the kiddie pool in your backyard, give the kids something to play with that is entirely made right before their eyes! Here’s a quick tutorial to make this job easier for you:

• Kitchen sponges (or an ordinary thick sponge)
• Craft Sticks / Ice Cream Sticks / Wood skewers
• Duct tape in different colors
• Tissue Paper
• Craft knife
• Cutting mat

Note:  All sharp tools like a craft knife and scissors must be used by an adult, or under adult supervision and used with acute caution.

       1.  Mark the edges of the sponge with a ruler and lead pencil to make it even, as shown in the picture.

       2.  Use the scissors to cut the tip of the sponge into a pointy end.

       3.  With the help of a craft knife, make a small horizontal slit in the middle of the shaped sponge. This is where the mast will be placed.

       4.  To make the sail, place a piece of duct tape on a folded tissue paper, followed by another one alongside, overlapping it, but make sure it’s upside down.

       5.  Stick a second layer of duct tape over the first to make sure that both sides of the sail are smooth, and no sticky surface remains exposed.  Optional – use decorative tapes, or different colors alternatively to make the boat more visually appealing for the kids.

       6.  The sail should roughly be a square. The width of the sail should be approximately the same as the width of the sponge you’ve used. If required, use your craft knife / scissors to trim the edges in accordance                appealing for the kids.

            .   

       7. To place the mast with the sail, use the craft knife to make two slits – one at the top, the other at the bottom of the sail you just made. 

       8. Thread the mast, that is made out of an ice cream stick / a wooden skewer / a craft stick, through these slits and ensure that it sits in place using duct tape. The mast should be curved.

       9. Place this mast in the slit made in the sponge, and voila! A very colorful sponge boat is ready to float!

Try out this super easy, DIY sponge boat with your little ones and tag us on social media with #seasonsville with your fun creations of your sponge boats. Follow Seasons Ville for more mom-approved,  kid-safe crafty ideas  to make this summer quarantine fun for the entire house!

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