Many ways exist to make a car for a school project. Candy cars are made by piecing together a pack of gum, four pieces of hard candy and a snack size piece of chocolate. Candy cars, though they make great party favors, don’t roll. If rolling wheels are a requirement for the assignment, design a car with items that are usually found around the home such as cardboard, tape and straws.
- Cardboard
- Empty paper towel tube
- 2 straws
- Poster board
- Masking tape
- Colored tape
- Scissors
Use an empty juice, cereal, or shoe box for the required cardboard. Holes for the axle can be started using a hole punch. Straws can be trimmed if they are too long. Once the car’s frame is built, it can be spruced up any way the creator desires. There is no size limit to the wheels.
Draw four circles on a piece of cardboard. These are the wheels of the car, so be sure the front two wheels and the back two wheels are the same size. Cut them out.
Measure the diameter of the straw and cut a hole that size in the center of the four wheels. The straw is the car's axle so take caution; if the hole is too big the wheels will shake.
Cut axle holes in the paper towel tube. Two holes need to be cut for the front wheels and two for the back wheels. Try to make the holes as even as possible, and be sure the holes are big enough to allow the axle to turn freely.
Insert the straws through the holes in the paper towel tube. Place the wheels on the straws. Put pieces of tape around the tips of the exposed straw to keep the wheels from falling off.
Add zest to the car with a nose and a tail. For the nose, take a piece of poster board and roll it into a cone. Insert this in the front of the paper towel tube. For a tail, tape a cardboard A-frame to the back of the paper towel tube and design a top to attach to the frame.
Decorate the car. Take the pieces apart, dress them with different colored tapes, and reassemble the project. Paints, markers, crayons, stickers, and glitter are also very effective means of decor.
Things You'll Need
Tips
Tips
- Use an empty juice, cereal, or shoe box for the required cardboard. Holes for the axle can be started using a hole punch. Straws can be trimmed if they are too long. Once the car's frame is built, it can be spruced up any way the creator desires. There is no size limit to the wheels.
About the Author
Based in Defiance, Ohio, Becky Martinez has over seven years of reporting experience, having written numerous articles for two newspapers, "The Crescent News" and "The Bryan Times." She has a Master of Arts in English from Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, and has taken multiple creative writing courses since obtaining that degree.
Photo Credits
Illustration by Ryn Gargulinski