Made with just three simple supplies (popsicle sticks, glue, and marker), your students can create a mini-log cabin. This craft is not only a great way to celebrate Abraham Lincoln ’s humble beginnings, but also a fun way to dive into history and spark conversations about the past.
I’ve got some cool tips and ideas for using this DIY project. Follow the tutorial (with pictures) and add some creativity to your celebration!
Frugal and Creative Way to Boost History Fun
Do you need an affordable way to extend your lessons about Abraham Lincoln? Maybe you’d like a simple project for kids to enjoy for President’s Day ? Or perhaps you need a creative activity to use before camping or for rainy day fun?
Well, this easy log cabin craft for kids is excellent for all of those things and more!
As part of our homeschool President’s Day fun, my boys and I would read a lot of books. Then, we’d chat about the lives of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and other American presidents. Whenever possible, I liked to include hands-on projects.
Often, the theme of these projects was Abraham Lincoln’s log cabin. The boys would use Lincoln Logs , play dough, sticks from our yard, and Legos. This log cabin craft using popsicle sticks was a nice project that even my younger boys could enjoy.
Basic Supplies for This Log Cabin Craft
I try to keep kids’ crafts as frugal and simple as possible. This activity is awesome (in my opinion) because it only uses three materials – that I imagine you have in your home, library, or classroom. If you’ll be doing this project with a larger group (homeschool co-op , classroom, or library event), I suggest that you double check that you have enough materials.
This list of materials for this log cabin craft includes:
Popsicle Sticks
Glue
Scissors
Black Marker
Yellow, Blue, and Brown Construction Paper
How to Make This Easy Log Cabin Craft
01
Prepare roof of log cabin Lay the popsicle sticks on the blue construction paper to form a triangle roof line. Then, lay popsicle sticks on top of the triangle, matching the ends to one side, and draw a line where you need to trim them.
02
Prepare popsicle sticks Trim all the popsicle sticks.
03
Arrange popsicle sticks on paper Starting with whole popsicle sticks, lay them down horizontally one by one on the blue construction paper, gluing each one to the paper as you go. Once there are enough to make a square shape, start with the trimmed tapered sticks.
Once all the horizontal sticks are in place, the two whole sticks that formed the roof should be placed on top of the trimmed sticks.
04
Make door, windows, and chimney Cut the shapes of the door, chimney, and windows from the brown and yellow construction paper.
Draw the details on, such as doorknobs and window lattices.
05
Finish your log cabin! Glue the door, chimney, and windows into place.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Popsicle Stick Craft
What age group is this craft suitable for?
This craft is ideal for kids aged 5-10, but younger children can also participate with some help from an adult. Older kids can add their own creative touches to make it even more detailed! Also, you can provide older students with a STEM challenge to find different materials and attempt the build.
Can I use materials other than popsicle sticks?
While popsicle sticks are the easiest and most common material for this craft, you can substitute with construction paper, cardstock, or even cardboard strips. I encourage you to think outside the box as you go through your craft supplies!
Can I incorporate this craft into a larger lesson about Abraham Lincoln or American history?
Absolutely! This craft can be used as a visual representation of log cabins and pioneer life during Abraham Lincoln’s time. Use it as a starting point to discuss the history of log cabins, frontier life, and the role these structures played in shaping the early United States.
More Ways to Use This Craft for Kids
You can easily extend the educational fun with this DIY project for kids. If your focus is President’s Day (Abraham Lincoln), pioneers, or just because, you can use any (or all!) of these ideas:
Ccreative writing prompt – After building your log cabin, have your students write (or draw) about these questions:
Who lives there?
Where is this cabin?
What is it used for?
How was this log cabin built?
How old is this house?
Add drawing prompts – Encourage your students to create a background scene, color the popsicle sticks, and add accessories (stickers, washi tape, glitter glue)
Use as part of a larger log cabin community – Make several log cabins or combine creations into a large bulletin board
Use as a STEM challenge for older kids to make a 3D version of a log cabin with popsicle sticks – What other building materials could also be used? Can they add additional rooms to their log cabin?
Also, you can use this craft to celebration Log Cabin Day (the last Sunday of June).
Oh, and read some great books all about Abraham Lincoln:
Abe Lincoln’s Hat (Step into Reading) The Amazing Story of Abraham Lincoln: A Book for Curious Kids about the Life and Legacy of a Legendary President My Little Golden Book About Abraham Lincoln The Story of Abraham Lincoln: An Inspiring Biography for Young Readers (The Story of Biographies) Abraham Lincoln (National Geographic Kids Readers, Level 2) Who Was Abraham Lincoln? Abraham Lincoln Just a Few Words, Mr. Lincoln: The Story of the Gettysburg Address (Step into Reading)
popsicle stick log cabin craft with your students? I’d love to hear your ideas! Please share in the comments area at the bottom of this post. And let me know if you have any questions!
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