Your kids are really going to love this project that uses a penny, and popsicle sticks, to create Abe Lincolns log cabin. You wont have to rush out and purchase craft supplies since you likely have everything you need to make the cabin. You wont even need specific things since each cabin can be created using a number of choices in craft supplies.
Lay eight popsicle sticks on a flat surface. Arrange them so that they are in front of you horizontally, and they are butted together long side-by-long side, one above the next. Dont have any popsicle sticks? Cut out a square out of brown cardboard, or craft foam, and proceed with the project. If youre using popsicle sticks glue them together. If youre using cardboard color it so that it looks like brown logs going horizontally across the front of the house. Or, cut log shapes out of brown paper and glue them onto the cardboard. You have the option of leaving popsicle stick cabins as-is or painting them.
Whether youre using cardboard or popsicle sticks, affix a piece of magnetic sheeting to the backside. The sheeting is sold at any craft store, by the sheet or by the roll. The roll of sheeting is perfect if this is a craft project for several kids. Peel away the adhesive paper and stick the magnetic square to the back. Cut a triangle that will become the roof of the cabin. The triangle can be paper or craft foam. It should be glued to the top popsicle stick - or the top edge of the cardboard - and should extend slightly beyond the edges of the sticks or cardboard. Cut a rectangle to become the door of the cabin. Again, the door can be made of construction paper or foam. Glue it to the front of the cabin, off to one side, to allow room for a window as well. Make a doorknob from a small bead, a tiny pom-pom or a dab of paint. The window you cut should be slightly larger than a penny. Cut the square of construction paper or foam and glue it to the cabin. Now glue a penny on the paper window. It will give the appearance of Abe Lincoln, in the cabin, looking out the window. If you want, you can glue the penny to the window first, then use narrow strips of tape to create window panes. The tape should be placed in a tic-tac-toe pattern across the penny as well as the window. When youve created the panes you can then glue the entire thing to the cabin. You dont necessarily have to use a real penny to create the illusion of Abe in the cabin. Play money, with a Lincoln image, can be used instead. Even play paper money, that has the Abe design, can be cut and placed in the window. A small picture of Abe cut from a magazine works as well. If you dont have any magnetic sheeting just glue a string hanger on the back. Or, glue on a metallic hardware piece made for hanging ordinary pictures. Make something much larger by gluing the cabin onto a large piece of construction paper or foam. Now you can create trees, rocks and other outside embellishments for the cabin. You dont have to cut giant pieces of the magnetic sheeting; just cut three strips and place them on the back of the large construction paper piece. Cut trees and rocks from magazines and glue them around the cabin or just use construction paper to create the nature accents. Kids can use stickers to write "Abe Lincolns Cabin" across the top of the backdrop or can just leave off such additions. The final look of the cabin, with trees, rocks and more, is totally up to the child. Kids can do this project in school or at home. They can display the finished art on the refrigerator or on a wall. No matter where they show it off its a whimsical creation that will keep kids having fun for awhile. Talk to them about the famous Abe Lincoln while theyre making the cabin and theyll learn a little history without ever knowing it!
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