How to Make a Bus Out of a Milk Carton

Making crafts with your children may help improve their fine motor skills.

While school is out during the summer months, children can become bored very easily. Children often develop a need to be creative as they have become accustomed to creative activities in their classrooms. As a parent you may find yourself having trouble coming up with creative ideas. Making crafts at home, however, can be a very enjoyable and memorable experience for children. One fun craft idea is the milk carton school bus. By understanding a few basics, you and your child create a milk carton school bus together.

Things You'll Need

• Milk carton
• Yellow construction paper
• Black construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Tape (optional)

Instructions

1. Wash a 2-quart milk carton out with hot water and soap. Rinse the carton multiple times. Lay the carton upside down in a sink and allow it time to dry. Check the carton to make sure that it does not have a sour milk odor.

2. Create the shape of the bus by removing the top of the carton with a pair of scissors. Make an incision one-inch below where the top of the carton folds inward. Cut all the way around the carton until the top is removed.

3. Lay the remaining portion of the carton horizontally on its side. Glue or tape the removed top to the bottom of the carton, with the top sitting right side up, to form the front end of the bus.

4. Glue or tape yellow construction paper to all sides of the carton. Make sure there are no visible areas remaining on the carton.

5. Create wheels for the bus by laying a round object, no more than 2 inches in diameter, on a sheet of black construction paper. Trace around the object to create four round circles. Cut out the four circles and attach them to the sides of the carton where the wheels should go.

6. Trace a square object on the sides of the carton to create the windows. Draw lines down the side of the carton and write in the words "School Bus" on the side. Draw headlights on the front side of the bus.

Tips & Warnings

• Never allow children to use scissors or glue without proper supervision.

References

• North Shore Pediatric Therapy; Arts and Crafts Ideas to Improve Fine and Gross Motor Skills
• The Best Kids Book Site; Craft Projects for Kids
• Legends and Lore; Build a School Bus