Harborlight Montessori Students Set Sail—and Learn—at the Cardboard Boat Regatta

Why just study buoyant force in a textbook when you can live it?

Harborlight Montessori’s Upper Elementary students—grades 4 through 6—recently did exactly that as they took to the waters of Manchester Harbor for the annual Manchester-by-the-Sea Cardboard Boat Regatta. After weeks of research, design, and engineering, the students launched full-size cardboard boats they had built by hand, testing their understanding of buoyancy and balance in real time.

The Regatta challenges teams to construct seaworthy vessels using nothing more than cardboard, tape, and paint—then race them across the harbor. For Harborlight’s students, the experience marked the culmination of a hands-on science unit that merges theory with practice and connects learning to the real world.

“This project captures everything we want science to be—hands-on, inquiry-based, and joyful,” said Nichole Schrafft, Harborlight’s K–6 Science Coordinator. “When students build something that has to actually float, they aren’t just learning the formula for buoyant force—they’re experiencing it. They have to problem-solve, test, and adjust, just like real engineers and scientists.”

As part of their unit, students also worked with Roger Crawford, a local boat builder who shared his craft and helped kick off the project. Once the students saw how scientific principles come alive in real design and construction, they were hooked—eager to collaborate, innovate, and see their creations set sail.

“This is the kind of authentic, connected learning that prepares students to be ready for the world,” said Mike Bowler, Harborlight’s Head of School. “They’re testing ideas, working in teams, and learning resilience when things don’t go as planned. Whether their boat glided or took on water, the experience itself was the victory.”

The Cardboard Boat Regatta offered a joyful reminder that when learning is rooted in curiosity and community, it floats.

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