Looking for an engaging and educational activity to enjoy with your kids in nature? Building mini rafts is a fantastic forest school project that’s simple to create and sparks a wide range of playful and learning opportunities.
These rafts are not only easy to construct but also inspire creativity and exploration through activities like sailing competitions, testing buoyancy, designing flags, and more. This project can also lead to interesting discussions about the properties of different materials and their ability to sink or float.
Here’s the simple step by step instructions to make your own mini raft with the kids. This activity works well both at home with the family, or in a forest school session or outdoor classroom with a group of kids.
How to make a Mini Floating Raft - Forest School Activity
These rafts are great to build as they are simple to make and
provide inspiration for many other activities. You can have
sailing competitions, see whose raft sinks or floats, design flags
for the sails and more. This activity can also lead to interesting
discussions about what other materials might sink or float
Materials
- • 5 straight sticks or bamboo cane per boat
- • 1 thinner stick
- • String
- • 1 large leaf
- • Glue or double-sided thick tape
- • Wooden lollipop sticks (optional)
Instructions
- Step 1 - Break the straight sticks to roughly the same length, around the length of your hand, and lay them side by side.
- Tie string around the end of the first stick and tie a tight knot.
- Thread the string under and around the end of each stick, doing a few turns on each, securing them in place one by one and tying off when you get to the end.
- Repeat on the opposite side. It can help to have someone holding the
sticks as you go. - Step 2 - Glue or tape a lollipop stick or
flattish stick over the top of the string, one on each side, and leave to dry. - Now push your thinner stick through a gap in the middle of the sticks to make a mast. Glue this in place or use double-sided sticky tape. Glue
will help your boat last longer. - Step 3 - Using the end of the mast, make a
couple of holes in the leaf and thread
it on to the mast to act as a sail. If you don’t have any leaves, you can always
cut a leaf shape out of newspaper and use that instead. - Step 4 - Tie some string onto your boat if you don’t want to lose it and set sail. Use buckets or large trays of water if you don’t have access to a pond or stream.
100 Forest School Activities
This activity is featured from the new book by the bestselling authors Naomi and Dan Walmsley, 100 Forest School Activities!
We really enjoyed this book, there are so many fun and different projects that will keep kids busy outdoors and make your forest school time even more meaningful and valuable. Everything is clearly set out and easy to follow.
Through the pages of this book, parents, educators and nature enthusiasts will find a myriad of ideas to inspire little ones (and big ones) to embrace the beauty of the wilderness, cultivate a spirit of adventure and develop important skills while basking in the splendour of the great outdoors… or when the weather absolutely insists you stay indoors, it will help you bring nature inside!
Check out a review of another of their books here
Featuring a collection of 100 activities they are designed so you can dip into them, grab ideas and build your own Forest School sessions. It includes lots of key information and lessons for how to tie useful knots, use knives safely, how to build and light fires safely and responsibly — and there’s essential foraging advice, and much more!
This book is a great tool for fostering a love for the great outdoors and nature and will teach multitude of other bushcraft knowledge that will give children confidence and valuable life skills.
Credit: 100 Forest School Activities by Naomi & Dan Walmsley, Button Books, RRP £16.99, available online & from all good bookshops
Forest school is an amazing way for kids to learn and grow while having fun in nature. Here in Wales, our kids get to enjoy forest school every week, and it’s incredible to see the benefits. They get to explore the outdoors, get their hands dirty, and learn about the world around them in a hands-on way. This regular time in nature helps them build confidence, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Plus, it’s a great way for them to burn off energy and reduce stress. It’s wonderful to see our children develop a love for the outdoors and all the great things that come with it!
We also have more fun outdoor activities for kids, summer fun and nature activities here at In The Playroom, as well as our newer site Crunchy Family, so check these out too.
- Hot and Cool Colors outdoor Science Experiment For Summer
- Butterfly Nature Art Frame Outdoor Activity
- Shadow Names Outdoor Summer Activity
- Fun Shadow Drawing Ideas for Kids
- Tree Boggart Nature Art
- 33 Fun Kids Water Activities For Summer
- Make an Ant Farm
If you enjoyed this forest school raft craft then please go ahead and share this blog post on Pinterest, as well as grabbing a copy of the book to explore more!
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.
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