Lil’ Log Cabin (Pre-Primary)

Materials

• 4 x 4 x 3-in. corrugated cardboard boxes (see ULINE S-16725), 1 per child
• Jumbo craft sticks, 1 per child
• White poster board, one 22 x 28-in. sheet for every 12 children
• White cotton batting, one 6 x 7-in. piece per child
• Brown construction paper, approximately one 9 x 12-in. sheet for every 3 children
• Matthew 7:24 Verse Cards (DVD-ROM or download below)
• Ivory copy paper, 1 sheet for every 28 children
• Door Pattern (DVD-ROM or supplemental materials download below)
• Light brown cardstock, 1 sheet for every 24 children
• Window Pattern (DVD-ROM or supplemental material download below)
• Yellow cardstock, 1 sheet for every 12 children
• Figurines (DVD-ROM or supplemental material download below)
• White cardstock, 1 sheet for every 3 children

Tools and Basic Supplies

Pre-Prep

• Take the box and fold 2 opposing top flaps down inside the box. Then fold all 4 of the bottom flaps up into the box.
• Take the remaining 2 opposing top flaps and mark a point in the middle of each that is 1½ in. above the top of the box. Next, draw lines from those points down to the corners. Then cut along those lines to form gables that will support the sloping roof.
• At the peak of each gable, cut a ¾-in. vertical slit for the jumbo craft stick (ridge beam) to fit in.
• Photocopy Matthew 7:24 Verse Cards onto ivory copy paper, then cut out 1 verse per child.
• Photocopy Door Pattern onto light brown cardstock, then cut out the doors, 1 per child.
• Photocopy Window Pattern onto yellow cardstock, then cut out the windows, 4 per child.
• Photocopy Figurines onto white cardstock, then cut out 1 set for each child.
• Cut the white poster board into 6 x 7-in. pieces, then fold each piece in half to form cabin roofs. So that the roof will fit correctly, make sure the fold (ridge of the roof) runs parallel to the 6-in. side, not the 7-in. side.
• Cut white batting into 6 x 7-in. pieces, 1 per child.
• Cut the brown construction paper into 4 x 1-in. strips, 8 per child.

Teaching Tie-In

Today, we're making a little log cabin. You sure wouldn't want to build a cabin on a patch of ice that moves, would you? Your house would fall down! When you play with your log cabin, it can remind you of how firm and steady the Bible is!

Listen to these awesome verses: Matthew 24:35, Psalm 119:89, and Isaiah 40:8.

No matter what happens—even if heaven and earth pass away, God's Word will never pass away. Wow! The Bible will never change.

Class Time Directions

• Press the jumbo craft stick into the vertical slits in the 2 triangle top flaps so they stand straight up. Adjust the craft stick so it's evenly spaced.
• Glue stick the brown strips horizontally to all sides of the cabin. Leave a gap between each strip to simulate wood logs.
• On the front of the cabin, glue stick the door and 2 windows.
• On the left and right sides of the cabin, glue stick one window each.
• On the back of the cabin, glue stick the Matthew 7:24 verse.
• Apply glue stick to the white poster board roof, then press the white cotton batting onto the roof to look like snow. Gently place the roof on top of the cabin.
• Cut out each of the paper figurines (dad, mom, sister, brother, etc.) along the cut lines. Color them, then bend the tabs so they will stand on their own.

Tip Corner

1. Consider using sandwich baggies to hold brown paper strips, door, windows, jumbo craft stick, and figurines for each child.
2. Although not as sturdy, white cardstock can be substituted for poster board.
3. White felt can be substituted for cotton batting.