In this making project, children become car designers and build their own car of the future from large cardboard boxes and junk modelling materials. They start by imagining it: what will it look like, how many passengers will it carry, and how fast will it go?
Then it is time to start building. Children add features using scrap and junk modelling materials, fit driver controls such as a steering wheel, and decorate with coloured pens. Once it is finished, they can get ready to drive. The project also asks children to think about the environment. Could the car have a litter picker on the side? What might it run on instead of petrol, perhaps vegetable peel?
The big idea is that the way we travel shapes our towns and cities, and that clever design can make them cleaner and kinder to the planet. Reusing boxes and scraps to make the car is a simple lesson in reuse too, which is a nice link for anyone looking for recycling craft ideas.
For parents and teachers, try asking: How will your car help the environment? Who will ride in it, and where will you go? Children could present their finished cars to the class or family, explain their eco features, and then vote on which ideas they would most like to see on real roads. The project suits ages 3 to 7, and older children up to 11 can take the design questions further.
Activity
