Things You'll Need
Cardboard shoe box
Additional cardboard pieces or an extra cardboard box
Glue
Tape
Scissors
Paint
Paintbrush
Markers and embellishments (optional)
Making a jet plane out of a cardboard shoe box is a craft project that children of all ages can enjoy. This project is a creative and environmentally friendly way to reuse those old shoe boxes in the back of the closet. You can make this project more or less challenging depending on the age of the child; create a very simple plane for small children and allow older children more freedom to customize their cardboard jets.
Step 1
Use the long, narrow shoe box as the plane's body. Put the lid on top of the box and glue or tape it closed.
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Step 2
Cut two long, rectangular pieces from the extra cardboard. Each piece should measure about 6 by 3 inches. The rectangular pieces will form the plane's wings. Alternatively, use two equilateral triangles for the wings, measuring 6 inches on all sides.
Step 3
Bend one of the 3-inch sides of the rectangle approximate one-half inch. Glue the wings to the sides of the box, close to what will become the nose of the plane. Spread the glue on the bend of the rectangle and press against the airplane side.
Step 4
Cut a 2-inch equilateral triangle from the extra cardboard. This piece of cardboard will be the tail of the jet plane.
Step 5
Bend one of the sides of the triangle approximately one-half inch. Spread glue on the bent cardboard and press into the back of the plane. Glue the tail to the top, back portion of the plane's body.
Step 6
Allow the glue to dry.
Step 7
Paint the airplane white, or whatever color you desire. Let the first coat of paint dry.
Step 8
Paint windows along the outside of the airplane body and add details such as an airline logo or slogan. You can even draw people's faces in the windows.
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