3/4/11

Paper Towel Roll Log Cabin

This was a fun project and Cole loved it.  It would be a really fun activity for older kids because they could probably complete more of it independently.  It would be a great activity for around President's Day or if you were studying Abraham Lincoln.  We made it in anticipation of an upcoming camping trip.  Cole wasn't able to help too much with the assembly, but he loved playing with it.
Paper Towel Roll Log Cabin Supply List: 21 paper towel rolls, glue, heavy weight brown paper, scissors
Cut 5 of your paper towel rolls into thirds.  If you don't have enough paper towel rolls you could also use toilet paper rolls for this part.
Cut your brown paper into 11" x 4" strips.  You'll need 4 of them.  These are going to be the corners of your log cabin.
Cut slits approximately 1" long on each side of your paper towel roll.
Fold your 4 pieces of brown paper in half long ways.  Slide your paper towel rolls onto the brown paper.  You will have 2 sides that are solid paper towel rolls, 1 side with a door and 1 side with a window.
We put glue in between the layers of paper towel rolls.  This is not a necessary step.  I chose to use glue because we have a 16 month old master of destruction running around the house and I was afraid she would get hold of it and pull all the rolls off.
I topped the cabin with another sheet of brown paper.  I did this pretty much to show the finished project.  As soon as Cole started to play with the cabin the roof came off so he could reach in and fill it with friends.
Here is the back view of the wall with a window.

Book Suggestion: The Log Cabin Quilt is a touching book that follows a family as they move across the country following their mother's death.  It has warm colors and an even warmer story.  It is a great story that older students would enjoy.

3 comments:

Monica said...

This is a great craft! you have been saving paper towel rolls for a while. =)
If you ever want to make a cool little castle out of cardboard and foam insulation or pool noodles, check out my link...paper towel rolls work too...and you seem to have an abundant supply. =)
Thanks for sharing

Monica said...

This is a great craft! you have been saving paper towel rolls for a while. =)
If you ever want to make a cool little castle out of cardboard and foam insulation or pool noodles, check out my link...paper towel rolls work too...and you seem to have an abundant supply. =)
Thanks for sharing

Evelyn said...

What a great idea! I just have to share it on The Homeschool Club on Facebook!