How To Build The Mayflower For A School Project

Though most countries have some sort of fall or harvest festival, Thanksgiving is a truly American holiday. The first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the surviving Pilgrims in 1621. Only about half the passengers who set sail for America aboard the Mayflower in 1620 survived the ocean voyage and the ensuing winter in their new land. Teaching children how to build a model of the Mayflower for a school project will give them insight into this historic event.

Step 1

Glue a sheet of blue construction paper to the bottom of a large Styrofoam meat tray to make an ocean.

Step 2

Fasten two sheets of brown construction paper together in the top corners with paper clips or staples.

Step 3

Draw a boat shape lightly with pencil on the brown construction paper and cut it out so that there are two identical boat shapes.

Step 4

Draw plank or timber lines on the sides that will be facing out. Write the name of the ship, "Mayflower," on each side.

Step 5

Glue the sides of the boat shapes together to form the ship part of the Mayflower. Flatten the bottom slightly and glue it to the "ocean."

Step 1

Draw two triangle-shaped sails on the white paper.

Step 2

Cut out the sails and use the paper punch to make two holes for the drinking straw "mast" to slide through.

Step 3

Stick two small lumps of modeling clay in the bottom of the construction paper Mayflower and push the ends of the drinking straw "masts" into the clay so the masts stand upright.

Step 4

Draw waves in the ocean, and write the word "Plymouth" on one side of the ocean after the ship has been placed, and the glue has dried.