How-to: Build Newspaper Structures with Your Kids–It’s a Toy that You Can Recycle!

rolled newspaper structuresTo build with the rolled newspaper tubes, just start connecting them with masking tape or staples. Each tube can be easily cut with scissors, and easily bent or folded.

Some structures, such as pyramids, are easy and sturdy, but your kiddos can up the challenge by trying out more complicated multi-sided structures. My six-year-old and eight-year-old were busy for half the morning constructing a cube-shaped playhouse for themselves, and it was fascinating to watch their engineering skills evolve as they problem-solved in the real world. They invented various kinds of supportive struts, but the real breakthrough came when my eight-year-old realized that two tubes taped together provided enough width in any given beam to completely solve the problem of the structure torquing at its joints.

And they didn’t even realize that they were performing applied mathematics!

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Written by Julie Finn

I'm a writer, crafter, Zombie Preparedness Planner, and homeschooling momma of two kids who will hopefully someday transition into using their genius for good, not the evil machinations and mess-making in which they currently indulge. I'm interested in recycling and nature crafts, food security, STEM education, and the DIY lifestyle, however it's manifested--making myself some underwear out of T-shirts? Done it. Teaching myself guitar? Doing it right now.

Visit my blog Craft Knife for a peek at our very weird handmade homeschool life, and my etsy shop Pumpkin+Bear for a truly odd number of rainbow-themed beeswax pretties.

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