How to build a space shuttle for dramatic play

Cardboard is a great material to use for props in your dramatic play center.  It is versatile, accessible and cheap.

Although, in the past I have hesitated in any DIY projects involving cardboard because

Cutting out cardboard can be intimidating

But if you have the right tool, it’s pretty easy.

Box cutters are amazing.  Don’t use a knife or scissors.

For outer space week, I made my first attempt at building a space shuttle.

Here’s how to do it.

How to make a space shuttle

You will need:

Tall cardboard box (I used a water heater box)

Box cutter

Pencil

White duct tape

Primer paint

Tempura white paint

tempura black paint

Tin foil

Modge podge

Space shuttle printables

Directions:

Space Shuttle Body

Find a tall box.  My neighbor is a plumber and had a water heater box that worked great.

Pick the most appealing side for the front of  your space shuttle. To make the pointed top, find the top middle of your box and mark it; Draw a straight line to the marked point; cut out the triangle.

Flip the triangle cut piece over and use it as a template to cut out the other side.

Walk to the back of the space shuttle and cut the following:

• the back side panel.  *Be sure to keep this piece in tact.  You will use it for the wings, later.
• the top off of the box
• the pointed tip to round it off
• the circle for a window (I traced a bowl)

Space Shuttle Wings

Now, put the space shuttle aside, and begin working on the wings.  Use the back side panel you cut out earlier and sketch a wing.  I Googled ‘space shuttle’ to reference pictures of the wings’ shape.

Once I was happy with my sketch, I cut out the first wing and used it for a template for the second wing.

Painting the Shuttle

I primed the space shuttle and wings with a white spray paint primer.

Once it dried, the kids and I painted it again with white and black tempura paints.

Once it dried again, we attached a NASA logo and a picture of our flag, and taped the wings on with white duct tape.

Decorating the Inside of the Shuttle

Next, we moved to the inside of the shuttle and glued tinfoil on.  To make the glue easily spreadable, I added a little water to the glue.

From there we added more space shuttle printables.

A quick Google search will give you some gauges you can use, or you can find the ones used in the images from my Outer Space Thematic Unit for early childhood lesson plans.

If you make this rocket ship you might also be interested in Alien Crowns found in the Resource Library, free to email subscribers.