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Free Space and solidsArt and pattern
A Boat for a Message
Build an open PLA boat from four filled parts. Once cool, place a small paper message inside and display it on a dry shelf.
- Age
- 10+ years
- Length
- approx. 70 min
- Level
- Easy
- Where you teach
- Home
- Purpose
- Creative
How to run this session
Stages and timing
- Draw and fill the bottom
- Make the first side
- Make the second side
- Add the stern
- Set up the three walls
- Tack the three corners
- Join the walls to the bottom
- Position your own boat
What gets built
Build a three-dimensional boat that can hold your own small paper message.
What it practises
- Joining an outline to its fill.
- Positioning flat parts in three dimensions.
- Sequentially tacking and making short joints between accessible edges.
Success criteria
- I can recognize the boat's distinct bow and open interior.
- The bottom and three walls form a three-dimensional hull.
- Once cool, the boat stands on its bottom without support, and a light touch on a cold side does not separate the joint.
- One small paper message rests inside the open hull; the boat stands on a dry shelf.
What you need
- Filament
- PLA
- Colours
- colour shown in the illustration, colour shown in the illustration, colour shown in the illustration, colour shown in the illustration, colour shown in the illustration
- Also
- 3D pen for PLA with a stable stand, used according to the device instructions., PLA compatible with the pen; choose your own colors., A transparent, level, PLA-compatible work surface with a clear area of at least 32 × 30 cm., A complete set of A4 templates, printed at 100%, without fitting to the page., A ruler for checking the 20 mm line and ordinary paper scissors., A small piece of paper for a message and a pencil or pen for writing.
Files
The files for this plan are free once you have an account. Download what you need and come back to them any time.
- Session slides Opens in the browser, nothing to install. 6.3 MB
- Step-by-step guide (colour) A4 PDF with full illustrations. 6.0 MB
- Step-by-step guide (ink-saving) A4 PDF prepared for cheap printing. 1.6 MB
- Printable worksheet, 1:1 scale Templates at 1:1 scale. Print one per person. 183 kB
Version 2026-09-29 Updated 2026-09-29
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