Set Sail With a Pirate Ship STEM Building Challenge!

Get ready for a swashbuckling STEM building challenge that will have your students thinking like designers, building like engineers, and testing like scientists. With this printable STEM building resource pack, 5th and 6th grade students will take on a hands-on challenge to design and construct a pirate ship that can hold as much treasure (coins!) as possible—all while staying afloat.

This activity is perfect for introducing design and engineering concepts while encouraging creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving. The ship that holds the most coins wins, but every student will walk away with valuable STEM skills and a sense of accomplishment!

What’s Included in This Pirate-Themed STEM Project?

This printable, paper-saving resource features a group of worksheets that are designed to introduce and guide students through the process of completing a Pirate Ship Building STEM Challenge. In this activity, students will use these templates to complete the following tasks:

• Brainstorming – Students will map out their ideas and ship features with different design concepts.
• Materials Planning: Encourages resourcefulness as students decide which recyclable and teacher provided materials to use for their ships.
• Ship Sketch: Provides space for students to draw and label their designs before construction.
• Data Recording: Students will test their ships and track how many coins their ship holds and compare results with classmates.
• Reflection: Students will analyze their designs, identify challenges, and think about improvements.

This resource makes STEM learning exciting and accessible by:

• Encouraging hands-on problem-solving in a fun and engaging way.
• Introducing key engineering concepts like material choice, buoyancy and balance.
• Promoting teamwork and creativity

Download and Print Your Pirate Ship Building STEM Activity Today!

This resource is available as a printable PDF and a fully editable Google Slides download. To get your copy, click the dropdown arrow on the download button and select your preferred file.

This resource was created by Kaylyn Chupp, a teacher in Florida and Teach Starter collaborator.

More STEM and STEAM Challenges for Upper Grades

Looking for more ways to inspire future scientists and engineers? Before you go, check out these engaging STEM and STEAM challenges.

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