Simon Halpern

In this hands-on STEM challenge, 4th grade students work in pairs to design tin foil boats that can carry the most marbles before sinking. After predicting their vessel’s load capacity and recording key design choices, students observe as each boat is publicly tested in a fun, high-stakes “sink or float” showdown. Results are shared and analyzed as a class to uncover what makes an effective design. Throughout the activity, students engage in teamwork, measurement, data recording, and scientific

How Big Is It?This engaging activity invites students to predict the dimensions of everyday objects— before learning formal measurement skills. Whether working solo or in pairs, students jot down their best guesses for length, width, or height of familiar objects. Teachers can use the included HD digital slides to publicly showcase student responses, turning the lesson into a playful, discussion-rich experience - perfect for introducing units like inches, feet, and centimeters in a fun, low-sta