Columbus Day - Let's Have A Boat Race!

How fun is this boat race activity from Brittany over at One Charming Party?! Just like Christopher Columbus, who pioneered the way across the Atlantic to discover the New World, your students will have blast advancing their boats across the game mat. The set up is super simple. All you need are three small recycled juice cartons {one each for the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria!}, balloons, and a piece of butcher paper on which to create the game mat!

The game calls for each player to blow up the balloon on their boat, hold it while everyone finishes, and then place their boats at the starting point and let the balloons go at the same time. If you don't think your kinders will be able to blow up a balloon, here are a few alternatives you might try...

• Attach the milk carton boats to pull back racer cars.
• Actually create boats that float, place them in clear tubs of water, and have your students blow their boat from one end of the container to the other. Here are some great boat tutorials...
  • Ice cube boats from Alphamom
  • Cork boats from Time for Play
  • Juice box boats from Inchmark
  • Egg carton boats from Red Ted Art {via Life at the Zoo}

We know your students will have a blast with this activity! Be sure to visit One Charming Party for all of the game details or check out one of these fun alternatives!