As surprising as it may seem, one of the most common household objects, cardboard, can be used to build a boat. Building a cardboard boat has become a fun activity that anyone can participate in. Cities and schools hold annual cardboard boat races, judging participants on speed, design and creativity. In New Richmond, Ohio, there's even a cardboard boat museum! These special boats are much more than just a box thrown into the water; they are designed using elements of engineering and physics to make them not only water-ready, but fast and durable. Building cardboard boats is an exciting way to incorporate classroom topics into an exciting educational experience. History Boats were first used in very ancient times. The first boats were log boats, or dugout canoes, made from a hollow tree. These boats date back to the Stone Age, almost 10,000 years ago (History of Boats and Ships, n.d.). Around the year 3000 BC, the Egyptians and Mesopotamians used boats to travel along the Nile River. The Egyptians made cotton sails to use wind power to propel the boat. This relieved some of the workload of the hard-working rowers. By 1200 BC, the Phoenicians and Greeks were the most seafaring peoples of the Mediterranean (Jake, n.d.). The Phoenicians built huge cargo ships and placed two large masts on them. The boats were about 100 feet long and could carry 150 tons (“History of Boats and Ships,” n.d.). The Romans became the dominant rulers of the sea in 100 BC. The Romans built merchant ships nearly 200 feet long that could carry 1,000 tons, as well as human passengers. These boats were often overcrowded because the lower level was usually full of trade, while...... center of map......ardboardboatregatta.weebly.com/construction-help.htmlFriant, D. (2009) . The Cardboard Boat Book. BookSurge.History of Boats and Ships (n.d.). Retrieved December 2, 2013, from http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?groupid=102&HistoryID=aa14>rack=pthcJake (nd) History of Ships and Craft. Retrieved December 1, 2013, from http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/00450/historyofsail.htm.Walker, A. (n.d.). What are the different types of cardboard? Retrieved December 2, 2013, from http://www.ehow.com/list_6148284_different-types-cardboard_.htmlWatson, E. (n.d.). Know your boat. Retrieved December 2, 2013, from http://powerboat.about.com/od/smallboatseamanship/tp/Parts-of-a-Boat.htmWhat Floats Your Boat. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2013, from http://www.freedomoldhomeweek.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/boat_building_guide-2012.pdf