Build a Rocket Ship

What You Do:

1. Start by preparing your cardboard box. Help your child find the glued seam on the side, and use your fingers to split the box apart. Lay the box flat and label the outside of the box (the side with writing on it) as "Side 1" and the inside of the box (the plain side) as "Side 2."
2. Lay the box flat on a safe cutting surface with Side 2 facing up and the seam on the left side. Have your child go from left to right and label the panels A, B, C, and D. Cut off the cardboard flaps on the top of the box, and leave the bottom flaps intact.
3. Now it's time to make the top of the rocket. Start by measuring the height of the box and help your child draw a line across the width of the box that is one third of the way down from the top. For example, if your box is 48 inches tall, the line will go across the box at 16 inches from the top. Using the utility knife, cut through the top third of the seams between each panel, starting at the top and stopping at the line. Next, use the utility knife to score the box across the line you've drawn. This will make the triangular flaps fold in more easily.
4. Now, it's time to cut the tops into triangles. Have your child measure across the top of each flap and make a dot in the top center, then have him connect those dots to the edge of each flap, making a triangular shape, as pictured.
5. Next, cut out to tops of panels A and C only. Hold your yardstick along each diagonal line and cut out the triangular shapes with your utility knife. Set aside the smaller triangular pieces you cut off because you will use them later on to create fins on the rocket.
6. Now, it's time to get working on panels B and D. On these panels, you'll create tabs that will keep the rocket together. First, score the diagonal lines on these panels, but do not cut all the way through. Next, draw parallel line 2 inches outside of each line you just scored (see picture below), then use a yardstick and the utility knife to cut all the way through the outside lines. Set aside the fins for later.
7. Now, it's time to add in doors and windows. Cut off the bottom flap from panel B, where the door will be, but leave the other flaps intact. Have your child measure out doors and windows that fit the size of your rocket, then use the utility knife to cut across the top and bottom edges and an I shape in the middle so that the doors and windows can open and close.
8. When the decorating is all done and the paint is dry, it's time to put the rocket together. Now, if your child wants to decorate the inside of the rocket, here's his chance. Have him flip it over so that Side 1 faces up and he can paint or add stickers however he wants. Keep the box on the floor and fold it up so that panels A and D are on top and panels B and C are on the bottom. Cover the seam from panel A with heavy duty glue and attach it to panel D. Put some heavy books or weights on the seam until the glue dries. Once it's dry, reinforce the seam with duct tape.
9. Next, stand the box upright. Unfold the bottom flaps from panels A, C, and D so they lie flat against the floor on the outside of the box, as pictured.
10. Fold down the tabs on the top of panels B and D, then fold the all panels together to form the top of the rocket. Cut sixteen 2 inch strips of self-adhesive hook-and-loop fastener tape and attach four pieces evenly spaced across each tab. Attach the corresponding pieces to the inside edges of panels A and C. Press the panels together so the hook-and-loop fasteners meet. Now the peak of your rocket will stay together.
11. Finally, it's time for decorating! You can use duct tape to attach the fins to each bottom corner of the rocket. If you want to add fire to the bottom of your rocket ship, sketch fire shapes on the bottom flaps, then cut them out with the utility knife, and have your child paint them with reds, oranges and yellows. Encourage your child to use paint, markers, stickers, and/or construction paper to decorate the rest of your new rocket ship.

Once the rocket ship is all decorated, use it in some imaginary game play! For extra fun, make some mini marshmallow poppers to be your perfect alien defense system.