Prepare for Takeoff!: Airplane Box Costume

For those preschoolers mesmerized by all things that fly, this airplane costume is sure to pass with flying colours.

Airplane Box

Materials:

• Large corrugated cardboard box
• Aluminum foil
• Transparency paper (8½ x 11")
• Scissors or utility knife
• Paint or markers
• Duct tape
• Long paper fastener
• Glue or tape

Cut a hole out of the bottom of a box. It should be large enough to allow the box to fit over your child's head and around his/her body.

Create the pilot's window by first tracing a square (roughly 10"x12") on the top flap of the box. Cut three sides of the square and fold it upwards to create a flap, which will stand up from the box. Next, create the windshield by cutting a square inside the flap (roughly 8"x10"). Use tape to attach transparency paper.

Now make the wings. Mark out a square on either side of the plane. Much like you did for the windshield, cut out three sides of the square, so that the wings fold upwards. Create handles on the underside of the wings using cardboard scraps.

Use cardboard to cut out a tail and propellers. Attach the tail to the end of the plane with tape. Cover the propellers with aluminum foil and glue them to the front of the plane (or attach them using long paper fasteners so that they spin).

Decorate the plane and clear the runway for take off!

By Rochelle Strauss