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How to Build Your Own Covered Wagons

Covered wagons were used by pioneers on the long and tiresome journey to the western territories of America during the 19th century. This mode of transportation served as a form of protection from harsh weather conditions for the families and their possessions. Engage your child in a visual and educational experience by making your own toy covered wagon from common household items. Bring an important era of American history to life and have fun doing so with this inexpensive model.

Things You'll Need

1 rectangular, waxed cardboard milk carton (half gallon)
Scissors
Brown craft paint
Black permanent marker
Florist wire
Glue
White cloth
Needle and thread
2 wooden dowel rods
Cardboard

Instructions

- 1
  Clean an empty half-gallon, non-plastic milk carton and cut it in half from top to bottom. This will serve as the bed of the wagon. Paint the carton brown and draw black lines along the sides of the carton to give the appearance of wood.
- 2
  Cut four, foot-long strips from florist wire and bend the strips into arches. Glue the arched strips to the sides of wagon bed to create a frame for the wagon's cover.
- 3
  Cut a piece of white cloth large enough to fit over the frame of the wagon. Sew the cloth to the florist wire.
- 4
  Puncture the front and back sides of the wagon bed to create holes large enough to accommodate wooden dowel rods. Insert one dowel rod through each hole and cut any excess rod down to less than an inch on each side.
- 5
  Form wagon wheels by cutting four circles from cardboard, proportionate to the size of the wagon. Draw spokes on each piece of cardboard to make the circles look like wheels. Create a hole in the center of each wheel to accommodate the circumference of the dowel rods and attach one wheel to each rod.

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