Paper Rollercoaster Sculptures

Ask a child if they would like to take a ride on a carousel, Ferris wheel or rollercoaster and their answer will probably be a resounding ‘YES’! They may be too shy to actually climb aboard, but kids are certainly not bashful creating miniature amusement-park-worthy rides with dizzying loops and death-defying heights. The current activity in the Art Studio, It’s a Mary Blair World invites guests to construct their own unique theme park ride with paper and 3D materials. 

The materials for the activity are prepared strips of paper in various widths and lengths, glue sticks, scissors (straight-cut and shaped-cut), chenille stems, wire, colored masking tape, staplers and markers. You could add or subtract materials to match any age level.

A paper crimper tool adds some playful detail to some of the otherwise flat strips of paper.

When working with young children I show them a couple very basic construction techniques. Fan folding the paper to make it into stairs or waves.

Looping the paper strips in a few different ways and taping or stapling the loops to their background paper.

Our bulletin board continues to expand displaying many inspiring ways to change the paper into 3-dimensional sculpture.

We are connecting smaller sculptures together to make one large amusement park!

Thanks to all the guests who shared their work for this post!

For many more sculpture activity ideas click on the “Sculpture” category on the Making Art Together page.