B'nai Israel Community Day School

Homemade Spaceships

In honor of our "Outer Space" theme, here's a fun project to try at home...

Things You'll Need:

• Newspaper
• Empty paper-towel tube
• Construction paper
• Craft paint (optional)
• Shallow plastic dish (optional)
• Paintbrush (optional)
• Hot glue gun
• Hot glue sticks
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Markers (optional)

Instructions

1. • 1
     Lay down newspaper to protect your workspace. Pour your desired color of craft paint into a shallow plastic dish and paint the outside of an empty paper-towel tube, which forms the body of the spaceship. Alternatively, hot-glue a sheet of construction paper to the outside of the paper-towel tube and cut off the excess. Allow the paint, or hot glue, to dry completely.
   • 2
     Measure and cut four 2.5-inch slits into the bottom of the paper towel tube. Locate the slits so that each pair is opposite one another, and the cardboard tube is divided into equal sections.
   • 3
     Measure and cut two construction-paper triangles that measure approximately 4 inches tall and 5 inches long. Choose a color of construction paper that matches the outside of your homemade spaceship.
   • 4
     Cut a slit in the first construction paper triangle. Starting at the top, extend the slit halfway through the triangle. Do the same with the other construction paper triangle, but extend the slit halfway up from the bottom instead of the top.
   • 5
     Insert the triangle with the slit in the bottom onto the model spaceship using two of the slits you cut in Step 2. Insert the remaining triangle cut-out onto the model spaceship using the remaining two slits in the bottom of the spaceship model; it should fit into the first triangle cut-out as well.
   • 6
     Measure and cut a circle that measures 4 inches across out of construction paper. For an attractive look, choose the same color of construction paper you used to create the base of your model spaceship.
   • 7
     Roll the circle cut-out into a cone shape and secure it using hot glue. Hot-glue the construction paper cone to the top of your model spaceship and, if desired, decorate the outside of your spaceship using markers, paint and other craft supplies.