How to Make Models of the Octagon Lighthouse for Kids

The top of the lighthouse's tower forms a regular octagon.

Octagonal lighthouses feature a tall octagonal prism as their tower and not a cylindrical structure. Apart from the tower, however, octagonal lighthouses have no other differences with other types of lighthouses. Making models of this type of lighthouse for your children does not require any special skills, and even paper-crafting novices can complete the task in an afternoon. As this craft is intended for children, use lightweight materials of cardboard and foam core instead of wood.

Things You'll Need

• 2-by-1 foot sheet of 1/4-inch thick foam core
• Ruler
• Utility knife
• Thin cardboard
• Craft glue
• Sticky tape

Instructions

1. Draw eight identical trapezoids on the foam core sheet. Each trapezoid's long parallel must measure 3 inches, its short parallel 2 inches and the equal sides must be 7 inches long.

2. Draw two regular octagons -- featuring equal-length sides -- on the foam core. One octagon's sides must measure 2 inches each, while the other octagon's sides must be 3 inches long.

3. Cut out all the shapes using a utility knife. Make a 22.5-degree angle "bevel cut" on both of the equal sides of the trapezoids. Glue the long side of the trapeziums on the sides of the large octagon.

4. Glue the short side of the trapeziums on the eight sides of the small octagon to complete the tower.

5. Draw a long rectangle on a piece of thin cardboard. Design windows across the rectangle and cut it out. Roll it to create a cylindrical lantern room and use glue to keep the shape.

6. Draw a circle on thin cardboard with its diameter being 1.5 times as long as the lantern room's diameter. Cut out the circle and remove a 30-degree "pie piece" so that the circle resembles Pac-Man. Move the "lips" together to create a cone and use sticky tape to keep the shape.

7. Glue the cone on the cylinder and then the whole lantern room on top of the tower, to complete the octagonal lighthouse model.

Tips & Warnings

• Leave the model white. It can be the kids' task to decorate it as they wish.

References

• Area Guides: Backyard Lighthouse
• Chesapeake Chapter: Lighthouse Craft Project