DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - It's that time of summer when the excitement has worn off, and boredom has kicked in. If you're looking for an easy way to keep your kid entertained this summer, this easy experiment helps kids learn while having fun. 

This experiment was shared by Crystal Hoadley, executive director of Sunshine Supplies for Teachers. She said it's an easy experiment that uses very common household items. 

Supplies: 

  • cardboard
  • scissors
  • duct tape 
  • rubber band 

Instructions: 

  1. Choose how large you want your pedal boat to be. In the attached video, we cut the cardboard into a 3-inch by 3-inch square. 
  2. Shape the boat by rounding two of the corners. 
  3. Cut a square in the cardboard to create a U-shape. Trim a few centimeters off the square so it fits in the new indentation without touching the boat. 
  4. Wrap the square piece and the boat piece in several pieces of duct tape. All of the cardboard should be covered to help the cardboard be waterproof. 
  5. Wrap a rubber band around the open end of the boat. Stick the square in the opening and keep it in place with the rubber band. 
  6. Twist the square piece backwards several times. The rubber band will roll in the space between the boat piece and the square (or pedal). 
  7. When you are ready, release the boat into the water. The distance the boat will travel is based on how much you spin the pedal. 

That's it! This experiment can be adjusted based on the size of the cardboard you use, the size of the pedal and how much you twist the rubber band. 

"It's great because science is not perfect and we learn by trial and error," Hoadley said. "So, have kids work together. They'll figure out the best thing and make it a competition and see whose can go the furthest. And they might have to modify and figure out a smaller pedal versus a bigger one."

Hoadley said activities like this can help kids learn how to fail and try again, and how to troubleshoot certain issues. It's also a great project for those looking to have fun in a group or create a competition based on whose boat can go the furthest. 

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