Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Popsicle Stick Bows and Arrows


When I found instructions for making these miniature bows and arrows, at The Brooding Hen, I thought they'd be a fun object lesson to go along with some of the books we're reading about the Wampanoag, this week.

I figured the kids could decorate them in their own Native inspired designs, as we read about Massasoit sending out the 5 men to hunt for deer, to add to the harvest feast.


But, it turns out, they're such great toys, I think they might derail our studies for tomorrow, as we set up some buckets, or targets, for a competitive shooting event.

The Brooding Hen, offers an excellent step-by-step tutorial, for making them, so I won't repeat the steps here. But, if you want to make a few yourself, you'll need a sharp knife, or heavy duty pair of scissors, craft sticks, dental floss, and cotton swabs. They're pretty quick to make, once you've let the craft sticks soak, in water, for an hour, or so.


It takes some practice, to get the hang of shooting such tiny bows, but once you master it, the arrows really fly far, and fast.


We'll definitely be enforcing the no-shooting-at-people-or-pets rule, suggested with the tutorial. Though, I think we might set up some stuffed animals to play the part of the Thanksgiving deer, so we can reenact the historical hunt, ourselves.

For more fun with history, or geography, check out this week's Geography and History link-up, at Children Grow, Children Learn, Children Explore.

It's great to be a homeschooler.

22 comments:

Elise said...

How clever to come up with this design. Sounds like there is going to be a whole lot of bow and arrow fun in your house over the next few days.

Christy Killoran said...

My kids will LOVE these.

Tonya @ The Traveling Praters said...

What a really cute idea! Were you able to watch the Live field trip from Plimoth Plantation yesterday? If not the recording is up on their website. It really would fit perfectly with your studies. I loved listening to Goodwife Hopkins. What a treat. We thought it was very interesting. Of course, now my kids want to visit there. :)

An Almost Unschooling Mom said...

Tonya - Yes! We did get to see it - I clapped out loud when they showed the pin and ring game (made with bones) - it really did tie in nicely with our studies.

Phyllis said...

Oh, this is the tops, girl! You have really gotten my boys excited. Now, I am off to find the craft sticks and Q-tips...

Debbie said...

These are so cute! Thank you for the step by step instructions. Have fun playing with them!

Ticia said...

Oh my goodness! I so have to make these!

Unknown said...

Oh we are gonna try these too!

Jeff Schmitz said...

Fantastic idea. Want to try this too.

Natalie PlanetSmarty said...

I am so bookmarking it as a craft "for later". The picture of your daughter shooting the "arrow" is priceless!

Christianne @ Little Page Turners said...

What fun! E is reading the Thanksgiving-themed Magic Tree House book and learning a (tiny) bit about the Wampanoag Tribe. I would LOVE to visit Plimoth Plantation one day.

Unknown said...

Very cool! Thank you for sharing

Butterfly said...

Oh, too cool! My son will be over the moon. And now I know what to do with the dental floss we bought which was thicker than our usual brand ... knew it would be useful for something :)

Crane Family said...

How did you make your case for the arrows?

An Almost Unschooling Mom said...

Crane Family - I took a rectangle of paper, roughly 4" by 2.5", and cut a strip from the short end about 1/2" down, leaving it connected to the rectangle in the middle (so I cut in from both sides). Then I taped the two ends of the strip together to make the ring, and brought the two long sides of the rectangle together, away from the ring, and taped them together by folding tape over the seam. Finally, I folded up the bottom, and taped it closed.

I don't know if that will make sense or not, but it's what I did :)

Crane Family said...

Thanks I'll try it out!

Bbakeca said...

it is very cute! I will do this for my children! thanks for sharing!

Meagan said...

These are the best! My kids and I had so much fun making them today :) Thanks

Anonymous said...

OMG! Perfect hunger games party favors!!!

Sherry said...

Thanks so much for the idea! I've linked to it from my Cub Scout website http://CubScoutIdeas.com.

Thanks!

Bridget said...

Hey I saw these on a few sites but my question is how do you cut the end with a knife? Do you wait until it is soaked first? Thanks.

An Almost Unschooling Mom said...

Bridget - The link to Brooding Hen gives a great tutorial. You cut the notches before you soak the sticks. They are pretty easy to notch out - If I remember right, I used heavy duty scissors instead of a knife, and just kind of nicked into to both sides at once.