How to Build a Teepee Model

Teepees are iconic fixtures in Native American history.

Making a model teepee is an educational craft that you can do with kids to help them learn a little bit about Native American societies. Whether for an assignment, or for a decorative craft to do around Thanksgiving, making your own teepee model will allow for some creative time.

Things You'll Need

• 8 pieces of brown pipe cleaner (14 inches in length)
• String
• Large paper bag
• Craft glue
• Spray starch
• Small paintbrush
• Acrylic latex paint
• Acrylic shellac sealer spray

Instructions

1. Intertwine two pieces of 14-inch long pipe cleaner. Repeat this step with your remaining pieces so that you have four thick pieces of pipe cleaner.

2. Intertwine your four thick pieces of pipe cleaner at one tip, secure with string, and pull each piece out in a different direction to form your teepee frame.

3. Cut a semicircle out of your bag that is 12 inches long and 22 inches wide. Brown paper bags are good to use as your teepee walls because they look similar to animal skin that was traditionally used to make teepees.

4. Crinkle up your paper bag semicircle gently and un-crinkle and flatten it to create the realistic ripples of animal hide.

5. Drape your paper bag semicircle around your pipe cleaner base into a cone, and glue the edges together so that it holds.

6. Spray down the teepee cone with a liberal amount of spray starch and allow it to dry for an hour.

7. Paint designs onto your teepee using a small paintbrush and various colors of acrylic latex paint. Allow the paint designs to dry for about an hour.

8. Spray your teepee with a coat of acrylic shellac sealer, and let it dry for a half an hour, then repeat and do one more layer.

References

• Enchanted Learning: Teepee