Kaba Model

This is a multi phase project. If you have children grades k-3 you will need to pre-cut the black construction paper, black felt, gold wrapping paper and gold cord/braid/ribbon. The total time needed to complete project s determined by the humidity in your area. The prep time you do, and the age of children doing project. There are several options available. You will need: 8oz or 16 oz milk cartons, emptied, clean and dry black construction paper black craft felt white school or "glue all" glue gold wrapping paper ruler scissors duct tape (silver "sticky tape") white liquid paper/white out pen or white tempra paint fine tip paint brushes -- but ONLY if you are using the white tempra paint gold braid, gold cord, and/or gold ribbon (if you can't find these things you can use the gold wrapping paper) OPTION clean sand -- used to weight the project OPTION white construction paper

Please test your black construction/colored paper before you begin. Fold a section of the construction paper and look at the fold. Is the fold a rather clean sharp fold, or does it appear to have "breaks" or cracks in the fold and the fold itself is not clean or sharp? If this is the case go to Variation B

If you need to speed up this project due to limited class time, use Variation C

Variation A

Preparation directions:

If this project is for k-3 you may want to put cut all or some of the following items. If the children are older add some ruler/math work and have them measure out these preparation cut outs. These preparation cut outs assume 1 child. Multiply by amount of additional children making the project for accurate count of items needed.

If you could not find any gold braid, gold cord or gold ribbon you may cut a ribbon out of your gold wrapping paper 1/3 inch x 11 inches long.

Assembly:

1. Make sure the inside of your milk carton is clean and dry.

2. If you want add weight to the project do it now. Open the spout of the carton and pour in sand. It can be only enough to give it enough weight to keep it from blowing off a table from a small breeze or enough sand to make it a paper weight (something for Dad to put on his desk). However, if you choose to make it weighty, do not fill the carton all the way full. The sides of the carton should not bulge out.

3. Close spout. Fold spout, top carton tag and top of carton down into the milk carton. This will become the bottom of the Kaba project. Now secure this in place with a piece of duct tape.

4. Using white glue make an "X" connecting each opposite corner, then connect all other corners in box shape, on each side of the milk carton.

5. Now, starting at a vertical edge take your black construction/colored paper and fold it around the sides of the milk carton. Don't worry if you have a little excess paper, you will cut it back in the end.

Make sure that the black construction/colored paper has been firmly pressed on to the glue on all sides. Wipe off excess.

6. Set aside and let it stand for an hour. The nature of the milk carton can make gluing tricky. Give the glue a chance to bond /set so that the construction/colored paper won't move while you are working with the craft project.

7. After an hour or two cut off paper excess (paper that goes beyond the edges of the milk carton. Take out the white out/liquid paper pens and begin to mark in the mortar between the stones of the Kaba. You may use white tempra paint and a fine line paint brush. Do not use crayons or thin paint or the color will fade into the paper.

Science Experiment: If you've ever seen children building with Legos you know that until they are older they line up every brick of every row and every column. You must explain to them about how to stagger the mortar line and the brick layers. Staggering the bricks in the layers increases wall strength and stability. Show a picture of a brick wall, and point out how the bricks are staggered on each row so that there is not a column.

You may want to bring out some Legos and ask the children to build 2 walls. One where the bricks line up in rows and columns. And one where the rows are staggered. After both walls are built ask the children to tap them with a ruler, ever harder until each wall topples. Ask them which took more force to topple. Why? Another experiment using dominos | types of wall/brick bonds (look for keyword "brick bonds") | physics and a brick wall (still locating link)

With this discussion (and experiment) you may have begun the inspiration of a future architect or engineer, insha'Allah.

Let the mortar lines dry.. another advantage of white out/liquid paper pens is that they dry more quickly..

8. Once this is dry begin gluing the black felt top on to the top of the Kaba Model (which when we started the project was the bottom of the milk carton).

9. Next glue the felt curtain pieces to the wall on horizontal top edge. Let this dry for a few minutes to an hour. Cut off excess felt.

10. When that has dry begin at one vertical edge on the curtain attach the braid/cord/ribbon to the curtain.. drawing it all the way a round, gluing as you go or laying down a bead of glue first.

11. Cut out and glue Kaba door from gold wrapping paper. Door should cover both the felt and the "wall"

12. Let dry. Once dry cut off excess ribbon/braid/cord and wrapping paper.

Variation B

Use this variation if your black construction paper is not giving you a clean fold.

Instead of cutting the black construction paper as one long strip to go around the milk carton - cut into separate sections

With the exception of the black construction paper strip assemble according to directions.

Variation C

Preparation directions:

If this project is for k-3 you may want to put cut all or some of the following items. If the children are older add some ruler/math work and have them measure out these preparation cut outs. These preparation cut outs assume 1 child. Multiply by amount of additional children making project for accurate need.

Assembly:

1. Make sure the inside of your milk carton is clean and dry.

2. Close spout. Fold spout, top carton tag and top of carton down into the milk carton. This will become the bottom of the Kaba project. Now secure this in place with a piece of duct tape.

3. Using white glue make an "X" connecting each opposite corner, then connect all other corners in box shape, on each side of the milk carton.

4. Now starting at a vertical edge at the lowest edge of the milk carton take your black construction/colored paper and fold it around the sides of the milk carton. Don't worry if you have a little excess paper, you will cut it back in the end.

This is not the full wall ONLY a small portion the is seen where the curtain does not reach.

Make sure that the black construction/colored paper has been firmly pressed on to the glue on all sides. Wipe off excess.

5. Set aside and let it stand for 15 to 20 minutes.. The nature of the milk carton can make gluing tricky. Give the glue a chance to bond /set so that the construction/colored paper won't move while you are working with the craft project.

6. Be careful as you cut off paper excess (paper that goes beyond the edges of the mild carton) that the paper does not move . (for time savings we are omitting the mortar drawing)

7. Once this is dry begin gluing the black felt top on to the top of the Kaba Model (which when we started the project was the bottom of the milk carton).

8. Next glue the felt curtain pieces to the wall on horizontal top edge. Let this dry for as long a possible since it is directly adhering to the milk carton. 30 minutes to an hour would be good. Cut off excess felt.

9. When that has dry begin at one vertical edge on the curtain attach the braid/cord/ribbon to the curtain.. drawing it all the way a round, gluing as you go or laying down a bead of glue first.

10. Cut out and glue Kaba door from gold wrapping paper. Door should cover both the felt and the "wall"

11. Let dry. Once dry cut off excess ribbon/braid/cord and wrapping paper.

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