How to Make a Cardboard Spaceship for Kids

One of my favorite things to do as a kid was to turn cardboard boxes into something magical and adventurous. My best creation to date would have been the cardboard spaceship my best friend and I made together. It was roomy and colorful and completely our own. Share your child's first ride into space by making one together.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cardboard boxes (different sizes but at least one large-appliance sized)
• Pizza box
• Markers
• Glue
• Scissors
• Paint
• Paintbrushes
• Paper
• Foil
• Old computer keyboard
• Other old gadgets (miscellaneous)
• Magazine pictures of space

1. Lay the largest cardboard box down horizontally. It needs to be large enough for the kids to play inside. Choose which end will be the entrance and which will be the exit.

2. Open the pizza box and draw two footprints inside. This is now your transporter.

3. Take a smaller box and pick a wide wall of the box. Tape or glue it to the floor of the box and place the keyboard on it. If you do not have a keyboard, draw one or affix other gadgets to use as controls.

4. Paste up your large pictures or posters of outer space so that they appear to be the view from the window of the spaceship.

5. Paint and decorate the outside of the ship (you can of course do the inside too if you wish) with the name of the ship and any emblems you choose.

6. Twist up foil to make antennas and other metallic objects.

7. Launch your new ship to its destination.

[0sara0]

on 1/7/2009 I would've loved this when I was a kid!