Saturday STEAM Challenge – Pot of Gold

Are you ready to float some gold? In this fun STEAM challenge, kids will design and build their own “pot of gold” using simple household materials. Try using foil, coffee filters, cardboard, or other craft supplies to create a container that can hold coins. Don’t forget to add a handle so your pot is easy to carry!

Materials:
-Various supplies: coffee filters, foil, cardboard, etc.
-A collection of pennies or all the same coin
-Construction paper or cardstock
-Glue or tape
-Bucket
-Water

Instructions:

  1. Supply your learner with various supplies.
  2. Have them construct a small pot that is meant to float.
  3. Add a handle.
  4. Fill bucket up with water.
  5. Add your pot to the water to float.
  6. Start adding pennies one by one until it sinks.

How many pennies or Gold could your pot carry before sinking?

This activity is a great way for kids to explore engineering, design, and buoyancy while having fun experimenting with different materials.

Try these Extra Challenges:

  1. Material Test: Which material works best for floating—foil, paper, or cardboard?
  2. Shape Challenge: Try different shapes (wide, tall, or bowl-shaped) and see which holds the most coins.
  3. Handle Strength Test: Does your handle stay strong as the pot gets heavier?
  4. Prediction Game: Before adding coins, guess how many your pot will hold. Were you right?
  5. Team Build: Work with a partner to design a pot that can hold even more coins.
  6. Rainbow Bonus: Decorate your pot with rainbow colors for a festive St. Patrick’s Day theme.

Encourage your learner to observe what happens as they add coins and talk about why some designs float longer than others.

We would love to hear how this maze challenge went at home! Let us know in the comments below.

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xo Shiny Happy Kids