Home >> Toys >> Bath Toys

How to Build a Toy Canoe

North American Indians developed the birch bark canoe, a wood frame covered with the waterproof bark of birch, elm or cedar trees. These small, light vessels were perfectly designed for traveling the streams and lakes of what is now the northern United States and Canada. With a few inexpensive materials, you can make a toy birch bark canoe in about an hour.

Things You'll Need

Cardboard, 6 inches by 12 inches
Darning needle and string
Paints
1 box paraffin wax
Tin can
Pot large enough to hold the tin can

Instructions

- 1
  Fold the cardboard in half horizontally. Draw a canoe shape on one side, using the fold as the bottom of the canoe.
- 2
  Cut out the canoe shape with scissors. Avoid cutting the bottom.
- 3
  Sew the front and back sides of the canoe together using the darning needle and string.
- 4
  Paint the canoe and allow it to dry.
- 5
  Place the paraffin wax in a large tin can. Place the can in a pot containing an inch or so of hot water and continue heating the water until the wax melts. Dip the canoe one end at a time into the wax to waterproof it. Allow the canoe to dry. The finished canoe is ready for lakes, streams or the bathtub.

Bath Toys