Directions: Popsicle Stick Sleds

Popsicle Stick Sleds 

link to detailed photos by Susan Johnson

Materials: pruning shears, popsicle sticks, tacky glue, toothpicks, felt, string, scrap paper

Preparation:  Cut popsicle sticks in half using a pruning shears.  

1. Count out 9 whole popsicle sticks and 11 halves.
2. Count out 7-8 toothpicks
3. Pipe cleaner
4. One small piece of scrap paper to hold tacky glue
5. 12” of string
6. 3” x 6” piece of felt (cut with paper cutter)
7. Put in a baggie for each student.

Directions: 

• Pass out baggies with materials and squirt a small dab of tacky glue for each student.           Use one toothpick as “tool” for spreading glue.  

• Start by making 2 “sandwiches” gluing half sicks together.  (4 half popsicle sticks)

• 5 whole popsicle sticks make up the bottom of the sled.  Spread glue on top of the  2 “sandwiches” (half popsicle sticks) with tacky glue and place across the 5 bottom sticks to hold them together.  The extra thickness of the "sandwiches" allows space between the bottom of the sled and the 2 runners.  Add 2 full sticks make up the runners.  MAKE SURE THE RUNNERS ARE PLACED MORE TOWARDS THE BACK (some runner will stick out from the back) so your musher has somewhere to stand!

• Use 5 half sticks to create the back of the sled.  Attach these together by glueing another half stick two-thirds up the back. 

(THIS IS A GOOD STOPPING POINT)

• Add 2 diagonal full popsicle sticks to hold up the back.  Use lots of tacky glue!  

• Add toothpicks make up the side supports.  (Allowing the back and bottom parts to dry the day before helps!)

• Cut the pipe cleaner in half for a handle and brush bow.  Once the sled was finished, you can cut some felt to cover it!  Now it is time to attach a string and imagine you are the musher!