Build a Tepee
Build a Tepee with your kids that they can use on your next camping trip. With your tepee you can sleep outside under the stars and pretend you're a traveler on the Great Plains.
How to Build a Tepee
What You'll Need:
- Four 1 x 2-inch Wood Boards about 4 feet long
- Power Drill
- 3/8-inch Drill Bit
- 12 inches of Cord
- 2-1/3 yards of Muslin about 44 inches wide
- Scissors
- Fabric Paint
- Fabric Glue
- Needle and Strong Thread
 ©2007 Publications Inernational, Ltd. Bind four sticks together to make the base of the tepee. |
Step One: Drill a hole 2 inches from the top of each board. Thread the cord through the holes and tie the boards together to make the tepee frame. Tie the cord in a knot. Spread the boards out to form the frame.
Step Two: Trim one end of the muslin fabric to form a half circle. Cut a U-shape at the center of the straight edge of the muslin. Use fabric paint to decorate the muslin with a Native American design. Let the paint dry.
 ©2007 Publications International, Ltd. Your kids can decorate the tepee cover with their own designs. |
Step Three: Fold the straight end of the fabric over about 4 inches and glue a seam to make a pocket. Let the glue set.
Step Four: Slip 2 boards of the tepee frame through the fabric pockets. The tied ends of the boards should poke through the U-shaped hole at the top.
Step Five: Sew a piece of thread around the center point of the 2 back boards of the tepee to hold them in place. Stand the frame up, and spread the boards out to form the tepee.
 ©2007 Publications International, Ltd. Admire your authentic Native American Tepee. |
Teach your kids Fire Building with these safe, step-by-step instructions. Learn the correct way to build a fire on the next page.
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