These charming little boats are easy to make. They are an ephemeral toy. They are fun for a little while, and then they will get waterlogged and start to capsize. The lighthouse keeper will be very busy rescuing sailors after that.
We collected some horse chestnuts in the rain.
The children found some toothpicks, picked leaves of different kinds, and peeled the hulls off the chestnuts.
The hulls are soft on the inside, and you can push a toothpick mast in easily. If you are having trouble, a friend can help you with this part.
Make a sail out of a little leaf. A big leaf will make your ship turn over.
If it is a little windy, the ships will sail on a puddle.
If you can use a whole half of a hull, your boat will stay up better.
The quarter hulls tended to tip over when the wind blows hard.
A chestnut ship can be so beautiful, like the one this girl made.
8 comments:
Too sweet! The rain looks so very inviting (we had another scorcher today)
And, thanks so much for the blogshare... I am honored.
Blessings and magic.
Hi, Magic Onions! Thanks for stopping in! It is actually getting chilly, and after playing ships for a while, we got to feeling miserable and wet. I had to turn on the heat in the house! Beth
Hi Beth,
These are beautiful little boats...I love the one at the end with the little rose tucked in! The Horse Chestnuts are wonderful....we don't have many deciduous trees here in the south west...I miss the treasures that they bear in autumn!
Love,
Sara
I really love how this toy is from nature and then goes back to nature. These certainly are the best kind of toys! Many warm wishes on your weekend Beth! xo
These are very sweet, Beth!
Beth, these are just precious! Hmmm, I can't seem to think of a single chestnut tree here in Ohio. I don't know if they grow here. I will have to look that one up. Now, my grandparents in Virginia have a row of chestnut trees. It's time for a trip!
lisa
Hi, 5 Orange Potatoes. In Ohio, they call Horse Chestnuts buckeyes! And it is the buckeye state, right? love, Beth
Lovely idea Beth. Aaron is always wanting to float things on water so this can be added to our week.
( Ps..If I can find these here)
Regards
Suzanne
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