

Middle School Physics Thanksgiving Lab: 3-page STEM packet on Archimedes’ principle, buoyancy, water displacement, & cargo efficiency math.
Bring Thanksgiving history to life through naval engineering, fluid mechanics, and buoyancy physics! The Mayflower Cargo Float STEM Challenge (THX01) challenges middle school student teams to act as naval architects, designing a foil vessel to transport maximum cargo weight (pennies) without breaching the waterline or sinking.
Students explore Archimedes’ Principle, buoyant force, water displacement volume (1g = 1mL), center of gravity distribution, and hull geometry optimization!
What Is Included in This 3-Page Packet?
Page 1: Teacher Guide & Lesson Plan: NGSS alignment (MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-2), target science concepts, setup guide, expected student outcomes, answer keys, and math troubleshooting tips.
Page 2: Student Mission Card & Blueprint: Real-world naval engineering scenario hook, clear material limits box (aluminum foil, craft sticks, tape, testing basin, zero-leak rule), and a dedicated Vessel Hull Architecture & Vector Schematic sketching zone.
Page 3: Testing Log & Scientific Reflection: Structured Data Testing Table (track dry hull mass in grams, total cargo units supported, and failure modes across 3 trials), Applied Math Connection (calculate Structural Efficiency Ratios = Cargo Mass / Vessel Mass), and physics reflection questions.
Core STEM Skills Covered:
Naval Architecture, Buoyancy & Fluid Dynamics Physics
Archimedes’ Principle, Mass Displacement & Center of Gravity Balance
Data Logging, Mass Measurement (g), and Ratio Math Calculations
Hull Shape Geometry and Structural Efficiency Optimization
Why Teachers Love This Resource:
3-Page Professional Layout: Includes a complete Page 1 Teacher Guide for seamless prep, keeping student activity sheets clean and ready to print!
Low-Cost Materials: Uses simple aluminum foil, craft sticks or straws, masking tape, and metal washers or pennies.
High-Impact Physics Lab: Makes abstract buoyant force equations concrete, measurable, and hands-on for Grades 6–8!
Print-Ready: High-resolution, 3-page PDF format ready for instant printing.
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