Popsicle Stick Boat Craft Ideas for Kids

These boats are a fun and easy summer craft for kids of all ages! It also helps kids learn to follow instructions, be creative, and problem solve! Check out the levels of difficulty and choose the appropriate one for your child.

Easy Boat: Supplies

Here's what you'll need to gather:

12 Jumbo Craft Sticks (any color)
1 Standard Craft Stick (any color)
Elmer's School Glue or E6000 for a stronger hold
Paper
Embellishments
Paper (to cover your work surface)

Easy Boat: Step One

Lay four sticks down flat like shown. Start with the very edge and glue down the top sticks, one after the other.

TIP:

Your boat should look like this. Notice the very small space between the two middle sticks. This space is the width of a standard craft stick and is there for the sail!

Easy Boat: Step Two

Now its time to create that sail I was talking about earlier. Cut a piece of thick paper in the shape that you want your sail. For my sail, I made a triangle and folded it in half around the standard craft stick.

Easy Boat: Step Three

Attach sail and let it dry completely.

Easy Boat: Float and Problem Solve!

Once your boat is dry, its ready for the water! Use this as a time to teach problem solving. We found that it floated pretty well, but challenge your child to figure out what would help it float even better!

Medium Boat: Supplies

Here's what you'll need to gather:

Standard Craft Sticks (any color)
1 Eyebrow Stick
Elmer's School Glue or E6000 for a stronger hold
Paper
Embellishments
Paper (to cover your work surface)

Medium Boat: Step One

Lay 12 sticks down in a straight row. They should be as wide as a standard craft stick. Next glue two sticks to the base, one on each side like shown in the picture. This will hold the base together, so make sure to let it dry.

Medium Boat: Step Two

Glue at all four of the corners as you build up the layers. Build as many layers as you like, I did about five.

Medium Boat: Step Three

When the sides are done, it's time for the sail! Decorate your sail. Poke one hole in the bottom and one hole in the top using the eyebrow stick. Use a generous amount of glue to position the eyebrow stick in between two of the standard sticks on the bottom. Let dry completely.

Medium Boat: All Set!

Get outside and test your boat! If you have trouble getting your boat to float, don't forget to try some problem solving!

Hard Boat: Supplies

Here's what you'll need to gather:

Standard Craft Sticks (any color)
1 Jumbo Craft Stick
Elmer's School Glue or E6000 for a stronger hold
Scissors
Paper (to cover your work surface)

Difficult Boat: Step One

Carefully lay 7-8 standard sticks down diagonally. Make sure a standard stick lays nicely across the ends (similar to the medium boat). Glue two sticks across the ends and let sit for a few minutes.

Difficult Boat: Step Two

Build up the layers using the same technique from the previous boat. Once you get about half of the layers done you can add seats if you desire. To do this I just used sharp scissors to cut the jumbo craft stick into two pieces. I just guessed how diagonal the ends needed to be to make it easy, but I encourage you to get out a ruler and cut them exact! Just use a small about of glue to attach seats and keep on building up the layers.

Difficult Boat: Step Three

To make the oars I simply cut both of the ends off of the jumbo stick I used for the seats and glued them to the end of two standard craft sticks. They turned out really fun!