Cardboard boat hit the pool

By Melissa Piche Times Contributor

Armed with cardboard, duct tape and a few other odds and ends, the Crowther Memorial Junior High Grade 8 students constructed and raced cardboard boats at the Strathmore Civic Centre and Aquatic Centre on Feb. 9 as part of their science curriculum.

The school has been doing the cardboard boat races for five years now, having missed a couple due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Teacher Rachel Cool said the students worked on the boat concepts for three weeks leading up to launch day. 

“All Grade 8 students participated in prototyping sessions where they looked at different aspects of construction and materials etc. to help them plan and kinda prototype on a smaller scale before diving into actual larger construction,” said Cool. “This year is the largest amount of teachers that we’ve had involved which is really cool.” 

There were five teachers that helped guide the students through the planning and construction. There were 130 Grade 8 students in total who took part on race day.

Cool said she feels the students had an idea of what to expect on race day, but didn’t fully understand the entire concept until the boats were under construction. 

“The actual engagement and participation … was just so awesome,” said Cool.

Split into groups, the students spent the morning in the design and construction phase. Each squad made flags to represent their team and got ready to launch promptly after lunch. 

In total, 26 boats set sail; not all were destined to make it – and some surprised. 

“We’re super lucky to have a great partnership with the staff at the pool and Civic Centre and the Town (of Strathmore),” said Cool. “They’ve been super supportive of this project for the last five years We’re lucky to have so many great community facilities in support of this project.”