Monday, October 11, 2010

Columbus Paper Plate Ship


Toddler, Pre-K

While big sister was making the floating armada...little brother was working on his ship.

Thomas LOVES to color & paint, so mommy let him make a ship that he could do.

For this craft you will need:
  • 2 paper plates
  • Crayons, markers or paint (your choice)
  • 2 Popscicle sticks
  • Stapler
  • Glue
This is a very simple craft. If you are doing it with your toddler, pre-cut the pieces. If your preschooler can use safety scissors what a great way to introduce fractions!

Cut one plate in half. Take 1/2 of the newly cut plate and then cut in half again, giving you a 1/2 peice and two 1/4 pieces.

Paint/color the top of the whole plate blue for the water.

Paint/color the 1/2 plate brown on the OUTSIDE. You will staple/glue the brown to the blue to make a pocket once they are dry.

Glue the 1/4 pieces of plate to the popscicle sticks (one piece to one stick). Glue the sticks inside the brown half of your plate (the boat). You now have sails for Columbus' ship.

You could let your toddler or preschooler decorate the sails or add stickers to make it more fun. Or you can add the first line of the famous poem to the boat like we did. If you are interested, here's the entire poem you can read to your child:

IN 1492

In fourteen hundred ninety-two
Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

He had three ships and left from Spain;
He sailed through sunshine, wind and rain.

He sailed by night; he sailed by day;
He used the stars to find his way.

A compass also helped him know
How to find the way to go.

Ninety sailors were on board;
Some men worked while others snored.

Then the workers went to sleep;
And others watched the ocean deep.

Day after day they looked for land;
They dreamed of trees and rocks and sand.

October 12 their dream came true,
You never saw a happier crew!

"Indians! Indians!" Columbus cried;
His heart was filled with joyful pride.

But "India" the land was not;
It was the Bahamas, and it was hot.

The Arakawa natives were very nice;
They gave the sailors food and spice.

Columbus sailed on to find some gold
To bring back home, as he'd been told.

He made the trip again and again,
Trading gold to bring to Spain.

The first American? No, not quite.
But Columbus was brave, and he was bright.

Mommy Tip: Don't forget to add your child's name and date to this craft and all others! You will really enjoy that later on. And, if you don't have the space to save all of your child's crafts, snap a picture of them with it--you can save the picture on your computer with out taking up that much space. Here is a look at the original craft, I based mine on:

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