Instructions on How to Build an Eiffel Tower Made From Toothpicks or Popsicle Sticks

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Things You'll Need

  • Popsicle sticks

  • Styrofoam

  • Scissors

  • Hot glue

  • Spray paint

The Eiffel Tower is such a beautifully intricate structure that modeling it may seem a daunting task. However, the design can be simplified enough to be easily re-created by practically anybody. A Popsicle-stick-and-toothpick model of this Paris icon makes a great school project when a student is learning about that city's culture, history or architecture. With a little assistance, any child can model the Eiffel Tower, a proud symbol of France since 1889.

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Step 1

Cut three Styrofoam squares in descending sizes to serves as the base of the model and the tower's two intermediate levels. The squares should measure 10, 6 and 3 inches on a side. The base Styrofoam piece should be 2 inches thick and the other two Styrofoam pieces should be 1 inch thick each.

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Step 2

Insert one Popsicle stick into each corner of the 10-inch Styrofoam base, slanting each stick slightly inward.

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Step 3

Push the 6-inch square of Styrofoam into the top of the slanted Popsicle sticks. Insert one Popsicle stick into the top of each corner of this Styrofoam piece, slanting each of the sticks inward.

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Step 4

Push the 3-inch square of Styrofoam on top of the second level of Popsicle sticks.

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Step 5

Glue two Popsicle sticks together, end to end. Repeat the process three more times. Insert one of the doubled-up Popsicle sticks into each top corner of the 3-inch square Styrofoam piece, slanting each of them inward, so that all four sticks meet at the top. Glue their tips together.

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Step 6

Hot glue toothpicks in "X" patterns between the Popsicle sticks up and down the top level of the tower. Spray paint the tower the desired color (light brown or bronze are good colors for this project).

Warning

Use only water-based spray paints on Styrofoam, which can disintegrate after contact with oil-based paint.

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