How to Make Igloos for Elementary Art

Igloo blocks are cut from the hard-packed snow using a knife or saw.

Igloos are domed huts made of snow. In the past, some members of the Inuit tribe of northern Canada lived in igloos during the winter. Constructed from blocks of snow laid in a spiral pattern, igloos can withstand hurricane force winds. Snow is a natural insulator; life inside an igloo was fairly warm, despite being made of snow and ice. Inuits burned seal oil for heat and light. Students learning about the different types of houses built by native tribes can create their own igloo using just a few inexpensive materials.

Things You'll Need

• Sugar cubes
• White glue
• Cardboard
• White paint
• Cotton balls
• White glitter

Instructions

1. Give each student a piece of cardboard upon which to build the igloo.

2. Paint the cardboard white and allow the paint to dry.

3. Apply a bead of glue in the shape of a large circle on the cardboard. This will become the main body of the igloo.

4. Lay sugar cubes on top of the glue to create the first layer of blocks. Leave a small gap in the circle for the tunnel entrance.

5. Apply glue to the top of the first layer, and place a second layer of sugar cubes over the glue. Offset the second layer of sugar cubes about one-eighth of an inch in from the edge of the first layer.

6. Continue adding layers, each slightly off-set from the last, until you have five layers. Allow the glue to dry overnight.

7. Add more layers of sugar cubes until the dome is about three layers from being complete. Allow the glue to dry overnight.

8. Complete the dome. Add layers of sugar cubes, off-set from the previous layers, until there is room for only one more at the top. Do not add the last sugar cube; the small hole at the top of the igloo serves as a vent.

9. Build a small arch for the tunnel entrance. Glue two sugar cubes, one stacked slightly off-set on top of the other, to each side of the gap in the circle.

10. Glue sugar cubes on top of these four cubes, slightly offset, until they meet to form the top of the arch.

11. Decorate the cardboard base with cotton balls and white glitter to mimic snow.

Tips & Warnings

• A paste of two eggs mixed with 3 cups of powdered sugar can be used instead of white glue as mortar for the blocks.

References

• PBS: Build an Igloo
• Native Languages of the Americas: Native American Houses