You can recreate covered wood wagons in a craft activity.
American pioneer families commonly used a covered wood wagon, known as a prairie schooner, as they migrated west. Consisting of a farm wagon and a white canvas, the prairie schooner was simple to construct and convenient for travel across Western prairies. A covered wood wagon craft is an ideal activity for children as they learn about the American West, although the craft isn't limited to kids. You can make the wagons from common household items or using a craft kit.
Materials
To make a covered wood wagon model from scratch, you'll need to acquire materials such as a shoe box, child-safe scissors, white and brown construction paper, brown-colored markers and glue or a glue gun. If you'll be using a craft kit, you'll need sandpaper and glue. For more complex models, such as the Covered Wagon kit sold by KwikCraft, you'll need a hammer and decorating accessories such as paint.
Making Your Own from Scratch
Cut four circles out of the shoebox top and cut out rectangles from the brown construction paper so that they can cover the sides of the shoebox. Using the glue or hot glue gun, stick the construction paper onto the box and a piece of white construction paper to cover the top of the box like the white canvas tops of covered wagons. Draw the spokes and rim of the wagon wheel on the circles with the brown marker, then attach these to the bottom of the shoebox.
Using Covered Wood Wagon Craft Kits
If you prefer, you can put together a covered wagon using a store-bought craft kit, which will come with separate wood parts to put together (see Resources). These kits don't typically come with materials such as sandpaper, glue or paint, so you'll need to provide these on your own. Amazon.com sells a covered wagon wood model kit by Darice and KwikCrafts sells a kit to make a covered wagon that is able to roll on its wheels (see Resources).
Suggested Reading Material
Reading materials, especially illustrated ones, can enhance a covered wagon craft activity with historical background and visual aids. Free Kids Crafts recommends Eileen Levine's "If You Traveled West in a Covered Wagon," a book written for children which describes what it was like to travel West as a pioneer, and "Covered Wagons, Bumpy Trails," an illustrated children's book by Verla Kay and S. D. Schindler. "Little House on the Prairie" and other books in the Little House children's book series by Laura Ingalls Wilder can also enhance lessons and activities on covered wagons.
