Kids can create their own building material by transforming a box into cardboard building discs. Stack the discs to make these awesome sculptures! Project & post by Samara Caughey of Purple Twig
Updated April 2025
A few years ago, I put together this project for our Architecture week of Summer Camp. I love the idea of the kids creating their own building materials to make sculptures.
As children are a part of the entire making process, it gives them a stronger relationship to the creating of the sculptures.
This is a great make-and-play activity for kids. First they make the building discs and then they can build sculptures with them!
The other aspect of this project I love is the reusing of materials, transforming the seemingly mundane cardboard box into a playful sculpture.
Cardboard Building Discs Sculptures
MATERIALS
- Cardboard (I cut the circles out ahead of time in different sizes)
- Tempera cakes in fluorescent colors
- Paint brushes
- Scissors
- Plastic tarp or oil cloth to cover work surface
INSTRUCTIONS
- Make the cardboard building discs
Each child chose about 6–10 circles and then cut the slots themselves around the circles.
This took some time and there was definitely some complaining about tired hands but ultimately, as repetitive tasks allow us to do, we had some great conversation as the cutting persisted.
- Paint the cardboard building discs
We then laid out the cardboard discs on the table and the kids began to paint.
I really like using the florescent tempera cakes because they are so bright against the brown cardboard.
The kids splatter painted, made lined patterns, mixed colors and explored different ways to paint on the circle.
- Start building with cardboard building discs
Once dry, it’s time to begin to build with the circles. The children worked both collaboratively and individually to make sculptures.
They tried to see how high they could make the discs, then they had the sculpture crawl off the table and onto the floor. There are just so many options.
When finished, we stacked up the cardboard discs to build another day.
More Building and Sculpture Activities for Kids
- 5 DIY Cardboard Toys You Can Make With Your Kids
- DIY Magnetic Building Sets with Cardboard
- How to Make Easy Wood Sculptures for Kids
- Easy 3D Sculptures for Kids
- How to Make Cardboard Tube Sculptures
- Rainbow Cardboard Sculptures for Kids
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