sailboat craft for toddlers

Preschool Boat Crafts

These preschool boat crafts are perfect for introducing young learners to both transportation and the letter “Bb”.

These hands-on activities not only unlock your child’s inner artist, but they serve as an engaging way to teach them about different modes of transportation and the alphabet.

So, prepare to set sail into a world of creativity, learning, and fun! Let’s dive right in and explore these exciting boat crafts.

These hands-on activities are an excellent way to familiarize your little ones with the transportation world and the alphabet’s letter “Bb”.

It’s more than just crafting; it’s a path to discovery, learning, and development. So, let’s set our compass and navigate through these fabulous boat crafting ideas!

How do these activities tie into the letter of the week?

As part of your “Letter of the Week” series, these boat crafts provide a fun and interactive way to familiarize children with the letter “Bb”.

When children make these crafts, the connection between boats and the letter “Bb” is an easy association for young minds to grasp.

Every time they see or think about a boat, they’ll be reminded of the letter “Bb”. This association can act as a powerful memory aid, helping children to recall and recognize the letter faster.

In turn, this promotes early literacy skills and paves the way for successful learning in the future.

Now that we've discussed how these boat crafts link the worlds of transportation, craft, and literacy, let's get into the exciting part — the crafts themselves!

Each of these projects is not only fun to create but is also skillfully designed to emphasize the core theme we're exploring: the letter "Bb".

Remember, the key objective is to make learning enjoyable and intuitive for our little ones. So, buckle up and get ready for some fun-filled crafting time ahead.

Fun Letter B Crafts

This  preschool boat craft  is perfect for your upcoming letter of the week lessons. You can also add it to your transportation and ocean units.  Homeschool Preschool

Ivory Soap Boats

Add a little science to your crafting time when you make  Ivory soap boats .  The Joys of Boys

Sailing Away: Homemade Sailboats

Explore wind speeds and waves when foam boats  sail away  in a pan of water.  What We Do All Day

Pool Noodle Boats

Don’t throw your noodles away at the end of summer. Use them to make  pool noodle boats  that can be used in the pool or the bathtub.  The Best Ideas for Kids

How to Make a Twig Boat

Gather twigs, leaves, and flowers on your next nature walk. You won’t believe how easy it is to use those items to  make a twig boat .  Family Budgeting

BOAT KIDS CRAFTS

This  boat kids craft  makes a great card cover or a simple piece of artwork to display throughout the summer.  Krokotak

Floating Popsicle Stick Boat Craft for Kids

These floating  popsicle stick boats  are another simple craft that uses supplies you can pick up at a local dollar store or craft store.  Hunny, I’m Home!

Rocking Boat Paper Craft with Video Tutorial

The video tutorial makes this  rocking boat paper craft  easy to assemble. Then, kids will want to play with it for a while.  Artsy Craftsy Mom

Rocking Paper Plate Boat

Here’s another fun  rocking boat craft  that uses a paper plate as its base.  Red Ted Art

How to make a self propelled boat craft from a magerine tub!

Your kids can make a  self-propelled boat craft  from a margarine tub with this tutorial!  Red Ted Art

Popsicle Stick Boat Craft for Kids

Preschoolers will love floating some peg dolls on these colorful  craft stick boats .  Rhythms of Play

Rocking Paper Plate Pirate Boat Craft

Ready for another rocking boat craft? How about this  paper plate pirate boat craft for kids ! It’s so cute.  Non-Toy Gifts

Cardboard Box Noah's Ark

Use a cardboard box to create a  Noah’s ark  that’s perfect for imaginary play.  The Craft Train

Coffee Filter Sailboat Craft

Here’s an easy  coffee filter sailboat craft  that’s easy enough for even your toddlers to create.  Look, We’re Learning

Let's Build Boats!

Add this  boat building STEM challenge  to your transportation theme. The kids will love it!  Pink Stripey Socks

Apple Boats

Fall is a great time to add apples to your lessons. Your kids will love making these  apple boats  that really float!  Here Come the Girls

Sailboat Craft

Whether your kids are dreaming of the beach or just need an afternoon craft to do, this  summer sailboat craft  is a great way to use old paper scraps and looks great on display.  The Best Ideas for Kids  

Easy Cork Boat Craft for Kids

These  easy pirate cork boats  are super cute and ridiculously easy to make! And, they really float!  Red Ted Art

Paper Plate Boat Craft

This  paper plate boat craft for kids  is a great way to have kids work on their fine motor lacing skills as they whip up a fun craft.  Non-Toy Gifts

Make a balloon powered sponge boat

Your kids will be so excited to create their very own  balloon-powered sponge boats!   The Craft Train

Make a sailboat out of a shampoo bottle

Make a sailboat  out of an old shampoo bottle. It’s a great way to recycle some household items.  Pink Stripey Sock

Cardboard Box Boats: Olympic Canoes

Cardboard canoes  are another great recycling craft. These are made with old egg cartons and strips of cardboard.  Here Come the Girls

And there you have it! An exciting exploration through the world of boat crafts, perfect for your preschooler’s exploration of the letter “Bb.”

These activities offer a unique blend of creativity, learning, and fun, transforming the way children perceive education.

Remember, it’s through such hands-on experiences that kids not only learn but also retain knowledge more effectively.

So turn those craft sessions into a voyage of discovery with these engaging boat crafts. Here’s to a world of learning that’s as vast and exciting as the ocean itself!

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So many adorable crafts!! Thanks for including me!

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Published: Aug 23, 2022 by Birute Efe · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

40 Boat Crafts Kids Will Love To Do (Many upcycled crafts)

There are few things kids enjoy doing more than playing in the water, and boats take the fun up a notch. Whether building a boat that floats for the backyard kiddie pool or making one out of paper, boats are a fun part of every kid's summer play.

This summer, we have a great list of boat crafts for you to make with your children! These 40 boat crafts kids will love to do are simple and inexpensive, requiring only materials found around the house!

Kids will have a lot of fun building DIY boats and then seeing if they can keep them afloat on water.

Note: Add a little string to your boats so you can easily retrieve them without harming local wildlife, or avoid having sobbing children who want their boat back!

40 Fun Boat Craft Ideas For Kids

Make a boat from duct tape & sponges, origami paper boat, wax boat craft, pool noodle boats, shampoo bottle sailboat, diy cork sailboats, diy tug boat.

• Let's Build a Pirate Ship

Milk Carton Boat Craft

Walnut boat craft, popsicle stick boat crafts, tin pan boat crafts, mayflower ship, diy basket boat, egg carton boat, cereal box boat, soda bottle boats, bottle lid boats, easter egg boats, twig bundle raft, viking longboat, soap bar boats, balloon boat, happy sailing, me hearties.

Time for our favorite Summer boat crafts your kids will love to create and play with! Children can design their boats, make them, and then watch how well they float!

Kids are always looking for excuses to play in the water. These DIY sponge boats will keep your children entertained for hours. Kids will enjoy racing their boats and try tirelessly to sink them in the water. Making the boat is super easy! You will only need three things-- paper or duct tape for the sail, a kitchen sponge for the boat's base, and a skewer or a straw for the sail mast.

Cut the top two corners of the sponge. Push the skewer in the middle to make the sail mast. Make the sail from paper or duct tape. This boat is perfect for bathtime or outdoor play. Head over to The Craft Train to learn more about how to make these fun little sponge boats and many more summer crafts for kids!

Most paper boats are easy peasy and so much fun to make. You can create one with your toddlers during summer break and watch their eyes light up with joy! This boat craft only requires paper and paper folding skills!

Artsy Craftsy Mom has some great instructions on making paper origami boats and many other fun crafts for kids.

My kids love making wax boat craft . They are so much fun and easy to make! The best thing is they always float on water and never sink. You will need cheese wax, a toothpick, and paper to make the sails.

Sculpt your boat with the cheese wax. You can make little round boats. Stick the toothpick and make a sail out of paper. Your boat is ready to go on long adventurous voyages! Use your imagination and decorate your boat. This is a fun boat craft for younger and older kids.

This is a great boat crafts for kids. You can create your Pool Noodle boats with simple supplies you can easily get at the dollar store. You will need pool noodles, colorful straws, and foam sheets. Follow the fun instructions on making pool noodle boats by Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails.

Using a knife, cut the pool noodle into small round shapes. Insert the straw on the side of the pool noodle and make the sails out of foam sheets. Your super cool pool noodle boat is ready to float.

Note: Parents can help their little ones by cutting the pool noodle with a knife.

Bring out your creative spirit with these fun kids crafts. Make your own sailboat with a shampoo bottle. All you need is a bottle of shampoo, a straw, a stirrer, a piece of paper, elastic bands, and a wine cork or a piece of the pool noodle (to stick the stirrer in to use as a mast).

Make a hole in the wine cork, stick the stirrer in the middle, and use paper as a mast for the sailboat. Pink Stripey Socks has some great instructions on how to build a shampoo DIYtle sailboat , and you will also find other DIY boat ideas.

Cork sailboats are easy to make and float well on water. This kid-friendly craft is an ideal summer activity. These are the cutest and easiest boats you will ever make! You will find all the different materials you need around the house. You will need some corks, an elastic band, skewers, and paper.

Combine the corks with the elastic band and make a hole in the middle. Stick the skewer and make a pretty sail for your boat.

Go to Happy Hooligans to find out how to make a cork sailboat and other cool summer activities! Make as many as you want. Kids can share it with their best friend. These are great non toy gifts!

This boat craft is great for kids of all ages! Your kids will love building a boat that floats and moves. Make this simple self-propelled tug boat craft with materials around the house. You will need an empty butter box, popsicle sticks, a yoghurt container, and paint.

Place popsicle sticks around the sides of the butter box. Put the yoghurt container on top and tape it down. Paint your boat. Make a paddle out of a piece of plastic. Make slits in the paddle and inset the piece of plastic through them. Wind up your boat, and it's ready to float away!

Cardboard canoes are great entertainment for kids. Children can use the DIY canoes for a sailing role-playing game with friends and siblings. Kids can also load the canoes with their toys during pretend play and fly the canoe around the house.

Simply cut out a cardboard boat and use hot glue to stick the sides of the boat to the bottom piece and ends. Make oars of the boat out of toothpicks and paint your boat. You can add some extra decorations if you like. You can even put action figures inside the boat. Kids can race the boat around the house and have fun!

Let's Build a Pirate Ship

Ahoy, my maties! This is a fun-filled craft for all pirates fans. Sail away with this exciting pirate ship craft this summer. Kids will love making this exciting boat craft. You will need cardboard, masking tape, and a stick to make the ship's mast.

You can download a free pirate ship template from Red Ted Art here and start making your pirate ship today! Enjoy the day pretending to be pirates and explore the seven seas!

This is a fun summer activity for kids of all ages. Kids can engage in imaginative play with this easy-to-make DIY milk carton boat craft . It's cheap to make, and you can easily find what you need at home. Have your child engage in some exciting science facts about buoyancy while they make the boat.

Cut one side of the milk carton and paint it. Use a skewer for the sail mast and a cloth or paper to make the sail. Kids can even use their toy as a pretend sailor while putting it in a pond or a bathtub to make it float.

If you live near an area where walnuts grow, you're lucky! We have the perfect walnut boat craft for you. You can use this natural crafting material to create cute walnut boats with your friends. They are simple to make and will almost always float on water.

The fun thing is you can make two boats from one walnut! Divide a walnut into two and fill both with hot glue. Place a pipe cleaner in each to create a sail mast. Stick googly eyes to the sail and draw a smiley face with a marker. It's as simple as that! Your cute little walnut boat is ready!

Stay cool this summer with this fun popsicle stick boat craft. As a kid, I remember making these boats with rainbow-colored popsicle sticks. I now continue the same tradition with my children-- they really enjoy making popsicle stick boats.

Layer the popsicle sticks and glue them together. Stack popsicle sticks around the boat and use one as a sail mast. Throw your popsicle stick boats on a water table and have a boat race with all your friends!

Create a boat you will love floating in the river. This is a really easy boat craft that even toddlers can make without help from their parents. Don't worry about the mess kids will make. There won't be any!

Kids will only need a tin pan. I gave my kids one of my leftover baking tin pans, which was lying around the house. Kids will also need play dough and an ice cream stick for the sail mast.

Put glue inside the tin pan and stick a ball of playdough in it. Put your sail mast inside the play dough, and you are ready to take your tin pan boat out on a sailing trip!

How about a history lesson while you make these fun boat crafts for kids? Make a Mayflower ship , an English ship that brought the first pilgrims to America. Make an exciting little ship from paper plates, wooden dowels, and other materials.

Cut the paper plate in half, join it together, and use wooden dowels as sail mast and paper to make the sail of your Mayflower ship . This is a fun craft to make, and you can hang it in your kid's room.

Note: Parents can help their kids with the scissors to cut the paper plates.

This DIY basket boat is a classic for kids! They can create their basket boat all on their own with their endless imagination. My kids usually take turns sitting inside the boat and giving a push to each other as they sail away on an unknown adventure! Better yet, if you have two or more laundry baskets, kids can have an exciting boat race!

All you need is a small laundry basket and a brown paper bag to make the sail mast. Use party streamers to decorate your boat. Kids love playing with this real-life boat. All the kids can take turns giving each other boat rides.

This is a great idea for kids o,f all ages. Egg carton boats are easy to make, and you will only need a few things you can easily find in the kitchen. Take an egg carton and cut it in half. Insert one or two straws to make the sail mast, and you are done. Paint and decorate your boat.

The fantastic thing is they float effortlessly on the water.

Have a box of Cheerios lying around the house? We have a great boat craft idea and activities for kids that they can make from cereal boxes!

Cut out a rectangular shape from the cereal box and glue it together. Insert a skewer in the center and use newspaper to make the boat sail.

Kids will have a blast playing with their cereal box boats !

Create your soda bottle boat and show it to all your friends. I'm sure they will love it and want one too! Simply cut the bottom part of the bottle, cover it in beautiful wrapping paper, and use a straw or skewer for the sail mast and paper to make the sail.

Kids can make more than one soda bottle boat and race them against each other.

This is another great and simple summer crafts idea for kids. All you need is a bottle lid, playdough, and straw. Put some playdough into the lid and insert a straw. Use a colored sheet to make your sail.

Children will love making these cute little bottle lid boats .

This boat is a fun Easter activity for kids. Grab some plastic eggs, straws, play dough, and colored paper stock. Fill the eggs with play dough and insert the straw in the middle. Make a pretty sail out of bright-colored paper stock.

Kids can sail their easter egg boats on a pond or a tub of water.

Return to nature with these super simple twig bundle raft boat activities for kids. Plan a fun family day at the local park collecting sticks to make your boat. Once the sticks are collected, cut them to the same size, hem them together, and tie them up.

Make your sail out of a leaf and float it on water.

Kids can create their apple boats in seconds! It's super cool and easy to make. Just cut an apple in half, stick a skewer or ice cream stick into it and make a sail. Your apple boat is ready to float on water.

Note: Use clean water to float your apple boats so kids can have a delicious snack later!

Make a fun Viking dragon ship for kids to pretend play. To create your longboat, you will need rectangle and dragon-shaped cardboard cutouts. Glue them all together and make cardboard oars and seats. Decorate your Viking longboat and use it for role-playing with your friends.

Here's a cool idea, make dragon flames out of crepe paper and glue them to the dragon's mouth! Kids can also use their Viking toys as part of pretend play.

Soap bar boats are a great idea for a summer activity for kids. Children can make these easy boats by taking a soap bar, carving it into a boat shape, and inserting a small toothpick in the middle to make the sail mast.

Once your boat is ready, float it in a pond or pool. Head over to Teaching Mama to find out more about how to make awesome soap bar boats !

You can do much more with a balloon than just tying a string around it. To create your balloon boat, you will need a plastic container, balloon, straw, and rubber band. Punch a hole on one side of the plastic container, blow up your balloon and tie it to the straw. Insert the straw in the hole, and your boat is ready to float on water!

Read more about the balloon boat and how to make it on Life with Moore Babies.

Build boats and have fun with these boat craft activities for kids! Your child will have a great time creating and learning more about boats and how they float on water. Boat crafts are fun summer activities the whole family can enjoy!

Reader Interactions

Alyssa fowler says

August 25, 2022 at 4:33 am

Wowww i loved reading this the instructions were so simple. I tried many of these with my kids. Would live to read more posts like this one!!! It was fun and simple!!!! 🤗

Claudette says

October 09, 2023 at 1:20 pm

Great pictures and beautiful, fun projects to do. Thank you.

Csaba Nilgesz says

October 18, 2023 at 12:20 pm

Glad you like it Claudette!

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Paper Plate Sailboat

Craft an easy mini sailboat using some basic materials— a paper plate, a craft stick, a toilet paper roll and some paper. Paint and decorate it into an awesome-looking sailboat. Make some paper people to ride in it too!

Featured Crafts

Paper Bowl Jellyfish

Supplies needed.

• Paper plate
• Craft stick or wooden dowel
• Toilet paper roll
• Poster paint, tempera, or acrylic paint
• Paint brush
• Crayons or colored markers
• Stickers, buttons, etc. (optional)

1 Cut a paper plate in half.

Fold a paper plate in half. Cut along the crease.

2 Trim off the plate's curved bottom.

Stack the two halves together. While keeping them aligned, cut a straight line 2½ to 3 inches from the plate's straight edge.

3 Assemble the boat.

Position the two halves facing each other so that they form a boat-like shape. Make sure that the edges are aligned, then staple or glue all four corners together.

4 Paint the boat.

Paint the boat with a water-based paint like poster paint, tempera, or acrylic.

5 Make a sail.

To make a triangular sail, you can start off with a square or a rectangular piece of paper.

a.)   Square - prepare a square sheet such as origami paper. Fold it diagonally in half to come up with a triangular sail.

b.)   Rectangle - begin with a rectangular sheet like A4 or Letter-size paper. If you used a small paper plate to make your boat, you may need to cut the paper in half for a smaller sail.

Fold one top corner of the paper down to meet the opposite edge, forming a triangle. Cut and discard the excess paper below the triangle.

6 Decorate the sail.

Use crayons, colored pencils or markers to decorate both sides of the sail. You can also put stickers or glue some paper cut-outs.

7 Glue a craft stick.

Unfold the sail and apply glue on all four sides of the square. Position a large craft stick or a wooden dowel along one side.

Fold the square again along the diagonal crease. Press on the edges to glue them in place.

8 Cut a slit on a TP roll.

About ¾" to 1" from one end of a TP roll, cut a slit just wide enough for your craft stick.

If you used a wooden dowel instead of a craft stick, make a small hole on the TP roll using the tip of a pencil. Make the hole just wide enough for the dowel to get through.

9 Position the craft stick.

Insert the bottom end of the craft stick or dowel into the slit or hole. Push until it touches the bottom of the TP roll.

The stick should fit snugly inside the TP roll's slit. If the slit is too wide, put tape around the craft stick to keep the sail steady and upright.

10 Put the TP roll in the boat.

Place the TP roll inside the boat. The roll should fit snugly. If it does not, glue the sides of the TP roll to the inside of the paper plate boat.

11 Add more detail.

You can further decorate your boat, if you like. Glue some buttons or foam shapes. To get your sailing theme going, make paper cut-outs of anchors, life savers, or flags. You can also draw and cut out paper people to ride on your awesome sailboat.

Though your boat looks all set for sailing, it is not made to float on water. Take it for a fun pretend sailing adventure instead!

Create a fabric sail.

Instead of a paper sail, create one from fabric. Choose a plain piece of fabric or a colorful patterned one. Cut it into a triangle and glue it onto a craft stick or wooden dowel.

Check out these crafts for ideas on for fabric decorating ideas:

• Bubble Wrap Prints
• Fruit and Vegetable Prints
• Potato Stamps

Paint a wooden boat effect.

For a wooden-looking boat, first paint the boat a light brown or beige color.

Once the paint is almost dry, use a dry brush to paint horizontal stripes in a darker shade of brown. Add very little or no water to the dark brown paint. Spread the paint a bit below each stripe so that it blends lightly with the background.

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• Crafts for 1st & 2nd Graders
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Box Sailboat

Mayflower or Pirate Ship

Paper Plate Animals

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Sailboat Craft - Easy Kids Activities

By Damjana Jakos • Updated on Aug 13, 2022

See how to make a styrofoam boat that floats. This easy sailboat craft is perfect for kids during the summer. An easy and fun summer craft project your kids will love to do, and might extend into hours of water play fun! Check it out here.

If you are looking for fun kids activities, check out these too:

• Making Bubble Snakes – So Much Fun!
• How to Make Easy Diy Paintbrushes - Quick!
• Diy Paper Bookmarks - Made By Kids!
• Water Walking Experiment For Kids

Check out this easy sailboat craft that kids can do to make diy sailboats out of styrofoam packaging. A great water play idea for the summer your kids will love!

Diy Sailboat Craft

To ensure these boats will float, we used some styrofoam packaging we got a few weeks ago. It's a great water play idea for the summer, and our kids love it. Yours will too! These DIY sailboats don't take a lot of time to make, and you probably have all the supplies at hand already:  

Supplies For Sailboat crafts:

Gathering your supplies will be quick - you only need these:

• a few pieces of styrofoam packaging
• a few pieces of self adhesive vinyl-coated color paper (the vinyl coated type will last longer!)
• toothpicks or thin sticks

How To Make An Easy Sailboat - Tutorial:

1) Cut an equilateral triangle from the self-adhesive vinyl-coated paper in the desired color.

Fine motor skills task for kids: cutting. If kids will be cutting these triangles, you can first draw them on the backside of the paper sheet.

2) Peel off the backing and tape the color paper around the toothpick, leaving the bottom third of the toothpick exposed. Here's your sail.

3) Stick the toothpick into a piece of styrofoam and here's your sailboat for hours of water play!

Totally easy and quick. You can make tons of them, depending on the number of players and the number of styrofoam pieces.

A great way for kids to have races - either in a giant bucket or a water table, it will always mean tons of fun for the summer!

Not only are these styrofoam boats easy to make, they float, too!    

It is not necessary to have a backyard for this kind of water play. At first, we simply used our kitchen sink, and it worked perfectly. one piece of advice, however: if you are about to set up the water play in your kitchen, make sure to have a towel at hand, to easily take care of any spills.

Hours of fun and play for your kids!

Once finished, they went to play with this diy masking tape racetrack we built on the floor a few days ago (again!)

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Sponge Sailboat Craft for Kids

Temperatures sure are rising so if you are in a search of a fun activity to cool with this sponge sailboat craft is just a thing to do with the kids.

These are not only fun to make, they are also extremely fun to play with. Your kids will be able to play with them in a tub of water or have a sailboat race in the nearby stream.

What you need Sponges -Used Ocelo brand, and they were 4.5″ x 3″ x 1/2″ Wood Skewers -used 8″ skewers but 12″ is fine construction paper scissors wire cutters glue

Trim your sponges with scissors. Green was trimmed in thirds Pink & Yellow cut in half Purple cut in half lengthwise (see notes)

For the Green sponges, I cut the skewer with the wire cutter to about 5.5″ in length. For all other sponges, I used the full size, 8″ skewer.

Create sails buy cutting triangles out of construction paper. If desired, Fold a small piece of construction paper in half and cut a triangle out on the fold. Glue the fold together on the top of the skewer.

Poke the skewer into the sponge so that it goes through the other side at least 1″. Remove the skewer. Poke a hole at the top of the construction paper triangle, along the long edge, and poke the skewer through the paper. Keep the skewer about 1/2″ to 3/8″ from the edge of the paper. Your sail does not have to be taunt on the skewer, it can bend.

Push the skewer with the sail through the hole in your sponge. Adjust the sail as necessary and sail away.

To sail. Place the boat into the water and let the sponge absorb water before letting go. You’ll need to adjust the skewer up and down through the sponge and adjust the sail for optimal sailing.

Note: They all tipped over at some point. And the sails got wet. But they still worked fine. It works best if the skewer pokes through the bottom of the sponge about 1-2″. Clearly you can experiment with this! The purple boat was the worst. Two masts and it never did officially stand up! It kept toppling over. You may want to omit, unless you have a determined child in the group.

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1 thought on “Sponge Sailboat Craft for Kids”

Great idea! Fun and easy. Using for my Toddler Sunday School class in telling the story of Paul and his ship wreck…so I hope the boat tips or sinks!

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Easy Paper Boat Craft for kids – Fun Summer Craft idea with Template

Have an afternoon full of adventure this summer by making this easy paper boat craft . Our printable template makes this sailboat craft super simple for preschoolers and kids of all ages to create.

If you are looking for a fun ocean themed summer crafts for kids to make, you are going to adore making some of these boats this year. The folded ocean waves adds awesome dimension to the paper craft and when mixed with the way the sail pops off the paper with a 3D effect, you are left with a stunning craft kids will love creating and displaying all summer long!

How to Make a Paper Boat Craft

This post contains affiliate links to the products mentioned. Read our  disclosure policy  for more information.

Supplies needed for making your paper craft

• sailboat craft template <—- Get your printable template here
• blue cardstock
• blue, brown and white construction paper
• craft stick
• extra strength glue stick
• pencil for tracing

Instructions for making this boat craft

Step 1: Begin by downloading and printing out the sailboa t template . Cut out the two pieces of the template.

Step 2: Using a pencil, trace the sail on white construction paper and the boat on brown construction paper with a pencil. Cut out each of the pieces.

Related: Paper Hot Air Balloon Craft

Step 3: Cut three pieces of blue construction paper the length of 1-inch x 12-inch.

Step 4: Add a line of extra strength glue stick near the bottom of your blue cardstock paper, along the entire length of the paper. Place the end of one of your blue construction paper strips at the edge of your paper on the glue. Every 1-2 inches along the construction paper strip, add a small bend in the paper. Continue until you reach the opposite end of your paper.

The folds in the construction paper add great texture and dimension to your paper craft looking like ocean waves.

Step 5: Add another line of glue above the blue construction paper strip you just added. Then complete step 4 again with another blue paper strip.

Step 6: Glue the brown boat piece of the template on your blue cardstock, above the second folded strip of construction paper. Then add glue along the bottom of the boat and add your third and final strip of blue construction paper.

Related: Paper Dragonfly Puppets

Step 7: Use a white crayon to color clouds around the top half of your paper craft. Then use a blue and white crayon to draw ocean wave marks along the folded strips of your blue construction paper ocean.

You can also add lines inside your sailboat with a brown crayon at this time.

Step 8: Add glue on the back of a wooden craft stick and glue just inside the top of your sailboat. Make sure to position it towards the left side of the boat to leave enough room for your sail. We definitely recommend using an extra strength glue stick for gluing down your craft stick, but as an alternative you can also use a hot glue gun.

Step 9: Add glue on the back of your paper sail, along the curved edge. Glue it onto your craft stick. Then add glue on your blue cardstock paper, behind the center of the sail. Bend the paper sail to create a curve popping off the page and attach the center of the sail down onto your glue.

Repeat step 9 again to create one more section of the sail popping off the page near the end of the sail. This creates a fun 3D effect to your sailboat craft. The texture of the blue construction paper and the 3D effect of the sail makes the craft like your boat has set sail deep in the ocean.

Related: Colorful Paper Birds

Video Tutorial: How to Make a Sailboat Craft

Watch the video below for a step by step guide on how to make this simple paper craft with our template.

Find more easy summer craft ideas, boat crafts for kids and summer activities for kids by browsing the categories at the top menu bar of our website. We are hoping to add some fun cork boats to our summer activities this year.

Check out our amazing list of over  100 fun and easy summer crafts for kids . Animal crafts, ocean crafts, space crafts and so much more…

Paper Hot Air Balloon -Easy, colorful summer kids craft!

Paper Plate Dinosaur Craft for Kids -Three Easy Templates for Dinosaurs

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Categories Kids Crafts

Sail away with this amazing recycled boat craft for kids.

Most kids just love the water.  They want to be in it or around it at all times.  From pools and lakes to creeks and streams, there is just something magical about water. 

Encourage little ones to play in the water with an amazing boat craft. 

Not only will this activity engage children, but it will also give them an opportunity to learn a little about science. 

A recycled boat craft is the perfect project to make with toddlers.

If they love the water, making a boat from objects around the house will be an ideal activity. 

This boat craft, in particular, is super easy to make and kids will spend hours watching their boat float in the water.  

This article contains affiliate links to products that you might like.

Crafting a Recycled Boat

It doesn’t take much to build a boat from recycled materials.  Using a plastic bottle, construction paper, and a few more items, kids will be sailing away in no time.  

Below is a complete list of materials needed to make a recycled boat craft.  

• Empty Plastic Bottle
• Twig, Bamboo Skewer , or Straw
• Construction Paper
• Markers or Crayons
• Small Stones, Gravel, or Rice
• Screwdriver

Instructions:

• Take a full-size piece of construction paper and cut it in half.  
• Use crayons or markers to draw a design on the piece of construction paper.  This will be the sail.  A few design ideas include a pirate hat, a happy face, a heart with an arrow, or maybe even a rainbow.  Anything your imagination can come up with will be perfect.
• With the scissors, carefully cut two slits into the sail.  One at the top and one at the bottom.
• After the construction paper sail is complete, take the twig, bamboo skewer, or straw and put it through both slits on the sail.  
• This next step is a job for grown-ups… With the bottle lying on its side, poke a hole in the top side using a screwdriver, skewer, scissors, or something else that might work.
• Next, push the mast (construction paper sail on the stick) into the hole you just made.  
• Lastly, remove the cap and add a few stones, gravel, or rice to the bottle to keep it from spinning in the water.  Watch it, though; make it too heavy, and your boat will sink!
• Replace the cap.
• Take the boat outside to the creek or pool or inside to the sink or tub and see if it floats! 

Playing With A Recycled Boat Craft

Now that the recycled boat craft is complete, there are many play opportunities to be had. 

Turn this awesome boat project into an exciting learning lesson.  See how far the boat can sail or maybe how wind affects the way a boat moves. 

Make more than one boat and have a sailboat race. 

Maybe even add pebbles one at a time to see how many stones it takes to sink a ship.    

A Boat Craft for Kids  

This boat craft for kids is an easy and engaging activity for toddlers and preschoolers. 

By following these simple step-by-step instructions, you and your little ones will put together an awesome recycled boat for hours of sailing fun.  

Happy sailing, everyone!

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• Printable Pirate Ship Template {Kids Craft}
• Fun Transportation Crafts and Activities
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Visit Our Recipe Site EAT YOUR BEETS! 

20+ Sailboat Crafts for Summer

Sharing is caring!

Preschool Sailboat Crafts For Summer

Well today I wanted to share a fun an creative list of ideas in the form of Sailboat crafts .

Making new things with the kids can be really fun. Sylvia and I love to make little, new and interesting crafts and we have been visiting the internet for sail boat inspiration.

I really love the idea of making crafts from recycled materials. So the wine cork boats and the boats using twigs are a real winner in my eyes.

I also love the idea of juice box and egg carton crafts . It’s great to use what we have in the home and make use of them for fun.

Which idea do you like the most?

I’d love to hear?

Twig Boat Craft

Crafts inspired by nature are the perfect ones to try during the summer, and this easy twig boat craft is just that! 

E asy Pirate Cork Boats

Time to put those corks to use! Get your toddler involved in this fun and interesting pirate themed cork boat activity! 

Wine Cork Sailboat Craft For Kids

And here’s another cork craft to get your toddler busy with! All you’ll need is a few toothpicks, colored paper and some corks! 

Juice Box Boats

Time to use up those empty juice boxes and turn them into something wow momma! Get your toddler involved in 

Milk Carton Crafts Boat

And here’s another super adorable and easy to make sailboat craft you can get your toddler to try out! This one’s made using milk cartons. 

Handmade Boats

A few twigs and sticks, a few strips of paper and some string- that’s all you need to get your kiddo to try making these handmade boats. 

Sailing On The 7 Seas Treasure Ships

Filled with parts of a map leading upto a treasure, this fun sailboat themed activity is an interesting one you can get your toddler to try out! 

Egg Carton Craft Ideas

Summer is here and it is the perfect time to try some fun crafts! This one makes use of that extra egg carton you have! 

Pool Noodle Crafts And Activities

Time to put that extra old pool noodle to use! Here’s not just one or two but 18 super toddler friendly activities using just that.

Be A Sailor Make A Boat

Using a simple cardboard box and a few other essentials, get your kid into some pretend play and try creating this fun little boat. 

Using just a few popsicle sticks, you can get your toddler to try making this awesome sailboat craft on a lazy summer afternoon. 

Boat Crafts For Kids

On the hunt for some more fun boat crafts for your kiddo? This one has a list of some of the best picks. 

Fun Sample Cardboard Boat

Approved by toddlers and lots of fun to make, this cardboard canoe craft project is an easy one to try! 

Paper Crafts Make A Boat

Super simple and easy to make, this is one boat themed craft activity that’s fun and yet, needs minimal supervision from your end too. 

Mayflower Craft And Science Activity

Turn egg cartons into mini pirate ships and get your toddler on board with this fun crafty and science themed activity! 

Kids Craft Milk Carton Boats

Use up those old milk cartons and turn them into boats. This is another fun summer themed activity you would want your toddler to try! 

Paper Plate Sailboat

And of course, no craft activity list is complete without a paper plate craft! Yes, you can use up those extra paper plates and turn them into a sailboat. 

Cork crafts Mini Beasts and Boat

And here’s one more fun cork craft you can get your toddler to engage in. And yes, it is super easy too. 

Tub Boat Craft

Ready to take your toddler’s activity time up a notch! Give this super fun self propelling boat activity a shot! 

Egg Carton Boat Craft

And last but not the least, here’s another inspired sailboat themed activity that needs you to use a few paints, egg cartons and some straws.

Have you seen our super fun Noah’s Ark Paper Plate Craft ? Check it out!

Angela Milnes is a  Qualified Early Years Teacher  who has specialised in Preschool and Kindergarten teaching. She has a wealth of experience teaching young children and is passionate about kids crafts and having fun as a family. Angela has also taught cooking skills and loves to share both family recipes and easy crafts here on The Inspiration Edit. Follow her on  Pinterest !

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These are so sweet! I feel the need to go and make a sailboat now…! x

Oh thanks Rosie. They are cute!

Those cork pirate ships are so adorable. You’ve picked out some lovely ideas here.

I know. I love them and this would be a great way to recycle too.

oh wow what fun ideas! I can really see the cork ones floating well

thanks Kitty. I love the cork one’s they are super cute!

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25 Crafts & Activities For Boat-Loving Kids

January 11, 2023 //  by  Rebecca Przy

Some children will come up with almost any excuse to play in, or near, water. By engaging them in a host of unique boat crafts and STEM activities, you give them an opportunity to do so, as well as develop their fine motor skills along the way! Indulge your little ones in a few of our favorite crafts and activities; perfectly suited to any boat-loving, water-mad child! 

1. Nature Boats

Nature is full of great crafting material; children just have to look for it! It doesn’t take long to stumble through your local park and find assorted materials that can be used to build a nature boat. These nature boats were made of big leaves, sticks, and seed pods, and then pieced together using hot glue.

Learn More: Mother Natured

2. Easter Egg Boat

These colorful plastic eggs can be used in many awesome boat crafts. You only need plastic eggs, foam sheets, drinking straws, and hot glue to bring them to life and float the day away. 

Learn More: Happy Toddler Playtime

3. Water Bottle Boat

This fun craft is easy enough for your kids to make on their own. All they need are water bottles, cardboard, and pieces of duct tape to make a funky floating contraption. Feel free to add a toy sailor to steer the ship once it’s constructed!

Learn More: PBS

4. Juice Box Boat

Don’t throw away those empty juice boxes! You can turn these recyclables into reusable boats. You can make the sail mast using colorful straws and paper and then let your kids paint their boats to make them even fancier.

Learn More: Made With Happy

5. Sardine Can Boat

I love that many of these crafts can be made out of recycled materials. This one is made using a sardine can, wine cork, tape, and some other household materials. Taping a heavy nail to the bottom can help keep the boat upright and afloat.

Learn More: Artists Helping Children

6. Boat in a Nutshell 

Check out these adorable walnut boats! You can make these using half of a shell and filling it with clay or any other moldable material. Stick a toothpick with a paper flag into the boat and place it into a body of water to float about. 

Learn More: Crafts Ü Print

7. Sponge Bath Boat Toy

This isn’t your ordinary kitchen sponge boat. Using different colored sponges you can make this deluxe sponge boat with a googly-eyed crew. Consider using leftover sponges as icebergs in your tub of water.

Learn More: Handmade Charlotte

8. Sponge Pirate Ship

You can make a specialized pirate ship out of sponges for a fun bathtime toy. This tutorial walks you through just how to do this; from cutting up the sponges to putting it all together using a BBQ skewer. 

Learn More: Pirate Pete

9. Clothespin Pirate Ship

This sweet pirate ship craft is cute and simple to make. However, they won’t be the best option if you want a pirate boat that will actually float. You can make these using clothespins, craft sticks, cardstock, and a skull paper punch. 

Learn More: Crafting A Fun Life

10. Craft Stick Peg Doll Boat

Here’s a creative popsicle stick and foam fusion boat that your kids could have fun personalizing. They can glue the foam blocks and popsicle sticks together, and then paint the peg doll as their favorite character. 

Learn More: Rhythms of Play

11. Layered Popsicle Stick Boat 

This isn’t just an ordinary popsicle stick boat! Your kids stack popsicle sticks in a diamond shape to make a canoe-style boat. They can use any extra popsicle sticks as oars.

Learn More: Crafty Sticks

12. Simple Preschool Boat Craft

Here’s a nice and easy boat craft for your preschoolers to enjoy. It requires only a handful of simple supplies; an egg carton, a paper towel roll, tissue paper, glue, and tape. You can let your kids paint and decorate their boats as they, please!

Learn More: No Time For Flash Cards

13. Easy Paper Boat Craft

Boat crafts that you can float in the water are great, but classic paper boat crafts that can be used as décor, are just as lovely! All you need is some paper, popsicle sticks, and crayons to get started!

Learn More: I Heart Crafty Things

14. Footprint Boat

Here’s a fun and creative idea! Your kids can dip their feet in paint and stomp their colorful footprints all over a piece of cardstock. Attach a craft stick mast and cut-up grocery bag for the sail and voilà- you will have a one-of-a-kind boat.

Learn More: Craftulate

15. Boat Collage

Pick up a few sailing magazines at your local used bookshop. Browsing these magazines can be an exciting experience for your kids to discover all the different boats in the real world. They can cut and glue their favorites onto a tissue paper sea.

16. Cardboard Oil Powered Sailboat Craft

This simple sailboat is made of cardboard, paper, and tape. The cool STEM component is how you get the boat to move. By dropping oil into the notch, the oil and water will repel each other and cause the boat to move.

17. Baking Soda Powered Boat

Here’s another science-powered boat project for your learners to try out. Add vinegar and baking soda to a bottle with a straw poking out the end to make this soda bottle boat. Once the ingredients mix, learners will enjoy marveling at an exciting chemical reaction that causes the boat to move!

Learn More: Science Sparks

18. Wind-Powered Boat Eggsperiment

Tape a blown-up balloon to a plastic egg to try this experiment. When your kid releases the balloon, the air will shoot out and the boat will move.

Learn More: Theresa A

19. Elastic Band Paddle Boat

This advanced boat craft is a good choice for your middle school students. Building it requires cutting up craft sticks, drilling small holes, and using lots of hot glue. The cool part about this boat is winding up the rubber band to make the boat propel itself. 

Learn More: DaveHax

20. DIY Boat From Popsicle Sticks

Some of your older kids may be looking for a bigger building challenge. This advanced popsicle stick boat could be just that! They can try to create their own complex and unique popsicle stick boat. 

Learn More: AM Channel Rp

21. Tin Foil Boat Science Experiment

Boats can be great for teaching buoyancy; the tendency of an object to float in water. Your kids can use the video instructions to fold together a tin foil boat. Then, they can test how many pennies it will take to sink the ship.

Learn More: KSU iTeach

22. Simple Boat Science Experiment

Buoyancy can be tested on different types of boats. Your learners can design their own boat or follow this simple popsicle stick craft in the web link below. How many rocks will it take to sink this boat?

Learn More: East Coast Mommy

23. Duct Tape Boat Races

Duct tape comes in so many exciting patterns. It can be awesome for making colorful boat crafts. Your kids can follow the folding instructions to make these duct tape-covered paper boats. When complete, they can use straws to race their boats across a body of water.

Learn More: Mess For Less

24. Read “Busy Boats”

Here’s an awesome preschool boat book that can be used to teach students all about real-life boats. It talks about sailboats, rowboats, motorboats, and more! 

Learn More: Amazon

25. Boating

Nothing beats taking a trip on a real boat! With so many options for boat trips, perhaps you could take your kids to the lake and paddle around on a row boat.

Learn More: Get My Boat

• ELEMENTARY AND BEYOND
• FAMILY – ALL AGES
• KINDERGARTEN

18 Boat Crafts for Kids to Make

Row, row, row your boat, and see if you can make it float with these boat crafts for kids.

What child doesn’t love designing, decorating and trying to float a boat a that they’ve made from scratch? It’s just one of those classic summer activities that every kid has to try!

I’ve rounded up a collection of 18 boat crafts for kids to make this summer!  They’re easy and inexpensive, using materials you have around the home!

Your kids will love building these boats, and then the best part – seeing if they can set them afloat in a sink, pool or pond!

16 Ways To Craft A Boat

How to make a boat.

Duct tape and sponge boats – the kids will love floating these around the bathtub!

How To Make A Paper Boat That Floats

Float a  juice-box boat around the kiddy pool!  What a fun, little upcycling project!

Craft Boats

You won’t believe what these sweet little wax boats are made from!

How To Make A Paper Boat

Send the owl and the pussy cat off to sea in this cute, little pea green boat.

How To Make A Boat Out Of Paper

A childhood just isn’t complete without making a simple but  classic paper boat craft.

These  sparkly cork boats  are so easy to make, and they look so pretty!

Boat Crafts For Kids

A simple sailboat is fun to decorate, and makes good use of your recyclables.

Mayflower Craft

These mini-Mayflowers are the perfect for floating around in the water-table.

Make a self-propelled tug boat with a plastic container and a few simple supplies.

Older kids will love making and decorating these tiny cardboard canoes.

DIY Pirate Ship

Arrrr, Matey!  A sponge pirate ship makes bath-time fun.

Milk Carton Boat

Milk or juice carton boats are perfect for small stuffies to sail away in!

Walnut Boat

These adorable walnut boats would be fun for racing down a stream.

How To Make A Boat Out Of Popsicle Sticks

Personalize a simple paper row-boat complete with oars and all.

Homemade Boat

Make a tin-pan sailboat and watch it float down a tin-foil river!

How To Make A Cardboard Boat

This cardboard sailboat can be made in miniature or large enough for a little one to play in.

Basket Boat

A laundry basket sailboat provides endless pretend-play opportunities.

Pilgrim Boat

A paper plate ship can be easily decorated to suit any nautical theme.

Love These Boat Crafts? We Have Other Fun Summer Activities To Try!

Making paper boats are fun, but we also have other summer activities for kids!

Stay cool with these fizzing ice science experiments.

Looking for simple things to do in the summer? We got you covered!

We have 25 summer activities for preschoolers!

Wondering what to do when your kids are bored this summer? You’ll want to check out Camp Mom!

We have over 50 fun camp inspired activities for kids.

Sharks are a fun summer animal! We always think about them when we are out in the ocean and shark week! So enjoy these shark crafts for preschool kids.

You’ll love these cool crafts! They all involve ice!

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Floating Boat Craft for Kids

Posted on Last updated: August 6, 2021

Your child will enjoy this simple boat craft and will have fun floating and racing them in the bathtub or pool!

Supplies for this boat craft:

• craft glue or hot glue gun

Line up 3 wine corks and glue them together. If you don’t have wine corks on hand, you can order craft corks HERE . 

You can use white glue and wait for it to dry or a hot glue gun for immediate results. 

Tape the corks together for added decoration and stability. 

Cut a rectangle out of craft foam. Poke the tooth pick through the bottom and then through the top as shown. 

Stick the bottom of the toothpick into the middle cork. 

Cut a triangle out of craft foam and glue it onto the top of the toothpick.

Test out your boat. Does it float? If it is tipping, adjust your sail and try again. 

Test It Out

• What happens when you make your sail smaller or shorter? 
• Have a race by blowing your boat with a straw. Where should you blow the air for best results?
• What happens if you move the toothpick and sail to the first or last cork? 
• Would your boat still float if you only used 2 corks?
• What other material could you make your sail out of? 

Check out or ideas for Woodworking with Kids

This project requires adult assistance to cut the milk carton. Cut a milk carton in half lengthwise.Shape the ends of the milk carton with your fingers to make both ends of the boat pointy.Paint the smaller box that will go inside the milk carton to hold the sail. Punch a hole in the middle of the box with a sharp pencil. Glue the box into the center of the milk carton. Cut out a square piece of paper about 1/2 to 3/4 of the length of the straw or stick. This will be the sail. Decorate the sail as you like with paint or markers. Punch a hole at the top and bottom of the sail and weave the straw or stick through the holes. Wrap a string around the top of the straw and tape each end of the string to each end of the boat.

Sailboat crafts for kids #2: Matchbox or Soap Bar Box Sailboat

Supplies Needed:

Match box or soap bar box (or any other small box will work) aluminum foil straw or stick paper paint and paintbrush or markers playdough hole punch or sharp pencil

Lay the open, empty match box or soap bar box on top of a piece of aluminum foil. Wrap the box with the aluminum foil. This will keep it waterproof. Cut a square from paper and decorate it with paint or markers. Let dry. This will be the sail. Punch two holes in the middle of the square paper, one at the top and one at the bottom. Weave the straw or stick through these holes. Put a small lump of playdough in the center of the boat. Stand the sail upright by pushing one end of the straw into the playdough to hold the sail in place.

Sailboat crafts for kids #3: Egg Carton Sailboat

Arts and Craft Supplies Needed:

The lid of an egg carton construction paper scissors hole punch or sharp pencil straw or stick paints and paintbrush or markers tape

Cut a triangle from the construction paper. Punch two or three holes along one length of it. Weave the straw or stick through the holes in the paper triangle. Paint the inside of the egg carton lid. Tape your sail to one end of the boat.  

Sailboat crafts for kids #4: Styrofoam Sailboat

Styrofoam lid(from a hamburger container or restaurant take out food container) paint and paintbrush or markers or stickers construction paper hole punch or sharp pencil tape or playdough scissors straw or stick

Cut a triangle from the construction paper. Punch two or three holes along one length of it with either a hole punch or the tip of a sharp pencil. Weave the straw through the holes in the paper triangle. Decorate your sail as you like. Decorate the inside of the boat either by painting it or using stickers or markers. Tape your sail to one end of the boat or stick the straw into a lump of playdough to hold the sail upright.

Sailboat crafts for kids #5: Aluminum Wrapped Boat

Any small box(such as a match box or soap bar box,etc.) Aluminum foil

Lay the box on top of a piece of aluminum foil. Wrap the box in the aluminum foil to make it waterproof. Mold structures/decorations to the ends of your boat with other pieces of aluminum foil. Tape in place if needed.  

Sailboat crafts for kids #6: Papercup Sailboat

styrofoam or paper cup paints and paintbrush or markers paper toothpick or small stick tape or playdough

This project requires adult assistance to cut off the top half of the cup with a knife of scissors.

More Sailboat Craft Kits You Might Like:

Want some more ideas for fun crafts for preschool kids? Sign up for my free monthly ezine Preschool Sparks:  

Want some more ideas for fun theme related monthly crafts for preschool kids? Sign up for my free monthly ezine Preschool Sparks.

Israel-Hamas war latest: Hamas number three killed, US says - as video shows anguish after Israel's raid on hospital

The US has said Israel killed Hamas number three Marwan Issa in an operation last week. Meanwhile, the Israeli military claims 20 Hamas fighters were killed and dozens of suspects arrested in a raid on Gaza's al Shifa hospital - which the health ministry described as a war crime.

Tuesday 19 March 2024 10:55, UK

• Israel-Hamas war

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

• US says Hamas number three Marwan Issa killed by Israel
• Alistair Bunkall: Death is a big success for Israel
• IDF soldiers raid al Shifa hospital in Gaza City
• Screams of anguish in video showing aftermath of Israel's raid on hospital
• Several killed as hospital on fire, say Palestinian health officials
• Journalist 'beaten and detained' in raid
• Michael Clarke : Israel under pressure as evidence grows it is committing systematic war crimes
• Watch: Israel films storming of hospital by drone | What video tells us about the raid
• Biden speaks to Israeli PM - their first call in 32 days

That's all for this evening, but we'll be back tomorrow with regular updates and analysis.

Scroll down to read what happened during the day.

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has joined those to express their concern about Israel's planned assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Mr Trudeau was speaking with Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz on Monday.

A statement from Mr Trudeau's office said he had "shared his concern" around the planned offensive "and the severe humanitarian implications for all civilians taking refuge in the area".

"He underscored the need to increase the volume of life-saving humanitarian aid for civilians and to ensure aid reaches all those in need, safely and without delay."

Christopher Lockyear, from Doctors Without Borders says any attack on Rafah would be "a disaster upon a disaster".

He tells the camera he is travelling through part of Rafah "which is incredibly crowded - we've been moving at a snail's pace for the last 10-15 minutes or so".

"There are people everywhere, there are tents and makeshift shelters to the left and right of me and there are kids literally everywhere, which is a real shock."

Mr Lockyear said: "Clearly any ground invasion into Rafah would be an absolute catastrophe.

"It doesn't bear thinking about."

As we have been reporting today, the situation in Gaza is becoming increasingly desperate, with children now starving to death in the enclave.

The UN has said famine is imminent, and the head of its  Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief body, Martin Griffiths, has condemned world leaders for failing to prevent the current state of affairs.

"Famine is imminent in Gaza," he said.

"More than one million people are at risk because they have been cut off from life-saving aid, markets have collapsed and fields have been destroyed.

"The international community should hang its head in shame for failing to stop this.

"We must flood Gaza with food and other life-saving aid. There is no time to lose.

"I renew my call to the Israeli authorities to allow complete and unfettered access for humanitarian goods.

"We know that once a famine is declared, it is way too late. We also know that, with action and goodwill, it can be averted."

This is footage filmed by a Sky News team near the al Shifa hospital earlier today.

Israel raided the hospital for the second time during the war, accusing Hamas of using it as a base.

Israel said it had killed more than 20 gunmen in the operation.

The hospital was Gaza's largest before the war and is now one of the only healthcare facilities that is even partially operational in the territory's north.

It has also been housing displaced civilians.

Israel's prime minister has agreed to send a team of officials to Washington DC so "an alternative approach" can be discussed with regards to Israel's plans for Rafah.

The news comes from US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who was speaking after a call between Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu.

The team will include military intelligence and humanitarian officials but it was not clear when they would travel to the US.

Israel said last weekend that it planned to launch an assault on Rafah, but there is growing concern about the safety of civilians in the city - where more than one million people fled to after being ordered to evacuate other parts of Gaza by Israel.

The call between the two leaders also comes amid US frustration with Israel's conduct during the war, including accusations that it has prevented from getting into the enclave.

Mr Sullivan said a major ground offensive would be a "mistake" and would "further isolate Israel internationally".

Bearing in mind that Rafah is a primary entry point for aid from Egypt and Israel, he said an invasion would also "shut that down or at least put it at grave risk right at the moment when it is sorely needed".

Looking across the rest of Gaza, Mr Sullivan said a "humanitarian crisis" had descended.

"Anarchy reigns in areas that Israel's military has cleared but not stabilised," he said.

The death of Marwan Issa is a big success for Israel, writes  Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall .

First reported a week ago by the Jerusalem Post after an air strike in central Gaza, there was no official confirmation until tonight.

It's unclear why the US confirmed his death before Israel.

Issa is the deputy Commander of Hamas's military wing and would have been involved in the planning of the October 7th attacks. He is normally regarded as the number three in Hamas.

Issa has the nickname "shadow man" for his ability to evade Israeli forces.

The whereabouts of Hamas's leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, remains unknown, likewise Mohammed Deif, the commander of the military wing.

It's thought they might be hiding in the southern city of Rafah, one reason why Israel wants to send ground troops in, though if Issa was located in central Gaza then it's possible others might be there too.

The US says Israel killed Hamas number three Marwan Issa in an operation last week.

Sky News has approached the IDF for confirmation but their response was: "The IDF has no comment on the matter."

When we covered reports of the death on 11 March, Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari had said they were awaiting confirmation.

Below is the last-known photo of Issa, taken at a 2015 security conference organised by a Hamas-aligned organisation.

For those following the situation in the Middle East, one of the big questions is when - or if - Israel will launch its assault on Rafah.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during the weekend that the assault was still necessary to "eliminate the remaining terrorist battalions in Rafah".

But for those who are trying to arrange aid deliveries - and those who are desperately waiting for them - the lack of certainty is already risking lives.

United Nations humanitarian coordinator Jamie McGoldrick said aid operations in Gaza cannot be planned more than two or three days ahead at the moment because of the instability and uncertainty.

"It would be a really difficult scenario for us to envisage the possibility of hundreds of thousands of people being forced from Rafah because of the incursion.

"We are not in a position to contingency plan that. We're not in a position to pre-position shelter, material, food, medical supplies and especially water... It will be a real problem for us." 

Why does this matter?

It is already extremely difficult to get aid into Gaza due to the security situation and Israeli restrictions.

In desperation, a small group of countries has resorted to dropping aid from the air and deliveries have finally been arriving by sea - but neither of these makes up for the capacity that should be brought in by road.

And, as has been confirmed today, the need is immense - the UN says famine is "imminent" in northern Gaza and people in the rest of the enclave are struggling to access food.

Mr McGoldrick said: "If there was to be an incursion, that (aid) system we have, which is already precarious and intermittent, would then be broken."

Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall  is in Jerusalem and says the US and Israeli leaders would have had a lot to discuss during their 45-minute call.

"We have seen over recent weeks, in the absence of communication between the two leaders, quite a public spat between Israel and Washington, the US president making it very clear that he is not happy with the way that this war is being fought and the lack of humanitarian aid that is getting into Gaza.

"For his part, the Israeli prime minister has been defiant and adamant that Israel will pursue its war aims, specifically, the release of all the hostages and the elimination of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. If that means going into the southern city of Rafah, then that is what the Israelis plan to do."

Over the weekend we learnt that Israel is still planning to push ahead with an assault on Rafah, in Gaza's south.

The US, Israel's staunchest ally, has said it will not support such an operation without the Israelis presenting a credible plan to ensure the safety of civilians.

Bunkall said an assault on Rafah does not seem to be imminent but that the world is "increasingly concerned that Israel is gearing up for it", with all of the humanitarian consequences that could have.

Meanwhile, ceasefire talks have resumed in Qatar, with a senior Israeli delegation flying there today.

"The expectation is that they might take a long time, maybe a couple of weeks if they're going to be successful.

"But Hamas has lowered its demands, Israel is still saying that are being unrealistic in what they are expecting. But there is certainly, it seems, room for negotiation. And as long as that stays the case, then there will remain hope that a new ceasefire deal can be agreed at some point."

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