We Made Our Own Sleds!

We ate breakfast at Dunkin Donuts (the kids' choice) and started our shopping.  We needed to buy some duct tape; lots of duct tape!
 
 School today was comprised of making our own cardboard sleds using duct tape and other household items.  It really was pretty simple.

Supplies needed:

• Large cardboard boxes; flattened
• Duct Tape; we used about three rolls per sled 
• Pool noodles (if making handles)
• String/ twine for holding handles in place if using and to attach to the front for easy towing (something we thought of AFTER we were done.
• Scissors or razor blades for cutting through cardboard
• Sharpie for planning out shape/ design of sled

We started with large flattened cardboard boxes.  The younger two boys decided that rather than cut them apart and have thin sleds they'd keep the cardboard in two layers for more strength.  Then the boys drew their shapes right on the cardboard with markers.


The boys each designed their own sled and I helped them cut the cardboard when necessary.  Ian was able to do most of his own cutting but the younger two needed a lot of help.  Cutting through thick cardboard is not easy!

Once trimmed they just started covering all the cardboard with duct tape.  They made sure to really tape the front of the sled well and loop tape over the edges so water would not seep inside.  I helped all the boys trim and unroll duct tape whenever they needed help but let them dictate to me which colors to use, where to put it, how to cut it, etc. so that they'd still have their own design when they were done.

Alec wanted to add handles to his sled and decided to thread his string through some pool noodle pieces to make a better and wider handle.  I helped him trim the pool noodle to the size he wanted and to cut holes through the cardboard where he wanted the handles to go through.  He did all the rest.

 It was fun and a great STEM project that really engaged the boys.

Trying out his handle 

Their completed sleds 

Anxious to try them out; they voted to see who sleds was the nicest and predicted which sled would be the fastest, which sled would last the longest, and which one would handle the jumps the best.  They were wary as to whether the sleds would even work at all.

Imagine our surprise to find out that they worked beautifully!

They came in a bit frozen and red cheeked but smiling and proud of themselves and their sleds.  Alec saw that his sled needed some repairs and waited to add a bit more duct tape to it once it dried.
 

They do tend to kick a lot of snow up into your face though

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