Let’s make a reed sailboat from pipe cleaners and learn amazing Mesopotamia sailboat facts while we are at it. Also, look at my page Ancient Mesopotamia Fun Facts For Kids Who Love History for more hands-on history ideas.
Too, you’ll love my Free Mesopotamia Lapbook For Kids Who Love Hands-On Learning.
Long before engines or metal ships existed, the people of ancient Mesopotamia built clever boats using the natural resources around them.
These Mesopotamian reed boats were an important part of daily life and helped early civilizations grow and thrive along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
Mesopotamia means “land between two rivers.” It was located in what is now modern-day Iraq and parts of the surrounding region. The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers provided water for farming, trade routes, and transportation.
Because traveling by land was slow and difficult, boats became essential to several areas of life…
- Trade- Farmers and merchants transported grain, pottery, and tools along the rivers.
- Fishing- Fish were an important food source.
- Farming- Boats helped move crops from fields to storage areas.
- Communication- Travel between cities was faster by river than by land.
Without reed boats, Mesopotamian cities would have been much more isolated and perhaps not have advanced as quickly.
BOOKS ABOUT MESOPOTAMIA FOR KIDS
Next, look at these books about Mesopotamia.
7 Books to Read About Ancient Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a region situated within the Tigris–Euphrates River system, in the northern part of the Fertile Crescent. Today, Mesopotamia occupies modern Iraq. In the broader sense, the historical region included present-day Iraq and parts of present-day Iran, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey.
Gilgamesh, half-god and half-man, in his loneliness and isolation becomes a cruel tyrant over the citizens of Uruk. To impress them forever he orders a great wall to be built, driving his people to exhaustion and despair so that they cry to the Sun God for help.
5,000 years ago in ancient Mesopotamia during a terrible drought, Jomar and Zefa's father must send his children away to the city of Ur because he can no longer feed them. At fourteen, Jomar is old enough to apprentice with Sidah, a master goldsmith for the temple of the moongod, but there is no place for Zefa in Sidah's household. Zefa, a talented but untrained musician, is forced to play her music and sing for alms on the streets of Ur.
Describes the enormous accomplishments of the Sumerians and Babylonians of ancient Mesopotamia in every scientific area, a heritage which affects our own everyday lives
Explores Sumerian, Babylonian, and Assyrian cultures, discussing social structure, lifestyles, and the military in these societies.
Lugalbanda woke with a jolt. He opened his eyes and what did he see but the terrible Anzu bird beating its wings in its nest high above. . . . Did he quake? Did he quail? No. Lugalbanda the Brave sat and stared, and into his head came a brilliant idea.
Presents the history of ancient Mesopotamia, describing the different groups of people who lived there, and their government, cities, everyday life, religion, and writing.
Invites readers them to become the main character. Each book uses humorous illustrations to depict the sometimes dark and horrific side of life during important eras in history.
Next, look at more activities.
ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA FUN FACTS
- How To Craft A Fun Headdress: Mesopotamia Art And Craft
- Easy Mesopotamian Art: Make Your Own Clay Relief Masterpiece
- Ancient Mesopotamia Games & How To Make The Royal Game Of Ur
- How to Create An Easy LEGO Mesopotamia Chariot
- How To Make A Craft Of The Golden Bull: A Mesopotamian Adventure & Review
- 10 Facts About Assyrians & How to Make a Battering Ram
- Discovering the Stars: The Astronomy of Mesopotamia and How to Make a Clay Star Pattern Tablet
- How to Make a Reed Sailboat: Ancient Mesopotamia Sailboat Facts
- The Food of Mesopotamia | How to Prepare Traditional Mersu
- Babylon Activities & How To Make The Gate Of Ishtar Craft
- How Mesopotamian Culture Shaped the World & Easy Gilgamesh Puppets
- A Journey Through Time: Easy Mesopotamian Pottery Craft With Kids
- Mesopotamian Himri Fun Facts and Fascinating Marine Life
Then, look at these sailboat facts.
5 MESOPOTAMIA SAILBOAT FACTS
- Mesopotamian reed boats were built from bundles of reeds, which are tall, grass-like plants that grow along riverbanks. The reeds were lightweight, flexible, easy to gather, and naturally buoyant.
- Skilled builders could construct a small reed boat in a short amount of time because the materials were easy to gather and did not require metal tools.
- Boat builders tightly bound the reeds together using rope made from plant fibers. Then, to make the boats waterproof, they coated them with bitumen, a thick, sticky natural tar. This helped seal gaps and kept water from soaking into the reeds.
- Even though reeds seem fragile, when bundled tightly, they trap air and float extremely well. The curved shape of the boats helped them glide over the water while staying stable.
- Some reed boats were small and used for fishing or crossing the river, while others were large enough to carry people, animals, and cargo.
And look at these hands-on activities.
HANDS-ON MESOPOTAMIA ACTIVITIES
- Hands-on Ancient Mesopotamia: Easy STEM Irrigation Activity
- Hands-on Geography Mesopotamia: Fun Salt Dough Map
- Free Simple List Of Ancient Civilizations | Their Inventions And Discoveries
- Hands-on Ancient Babylon: Hanging Gardens Fun Activity
- How Mesopotamian Culture Shaped the World & Easy Gilgamesh Puppets
HOW TO MAKE A REED SAILBOAT
You Will Need:
- Light Brown Pipe Cleaners
- String
- Glue
- Water
- Paint brush
Lay 3 pipe cleaners side by side so their ends line up. Tie yarn or string around each end, approximately one inch from each end, and one in the center.
Repeat this step until you have 12 bundled groups. These represent the reed bundles used in ancient boats.
Place 6 bundles side by side. Wrap another pipe cleaner around the center of all bundles and curve firmly at the bends to hold flat. Add another binding near the front and back of the boat.
Repeat with bundles of 3 to form the sides of the boat
Attach the side pieces by threading a pipe cleaner in and out the length of the side and bottom on each side to anchor them to the base.
Gently twist and press the front and back ends upward to form a shallow bowl or canoe shape.Wrap each end in another pipe cleaner to secure it.
“Paint” the boat with slightly watered down white glue and set aside to dry. This will represent the bitumen that they used to seal the reed boats.
To form the sail cut 4 pipe cleaners in half and twist to wrap around another pipe cleaner, just once but tightly one below the other at the top.
Flatten and wrap each end in another half a pipe cleaner to hold in place.
Fold up the bottom half of the long pipe cleaner and twist around itself to make it stronger.
Push through the bottom center of the boat and wrap around a few times to secure it in place.
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