Kon-Tiki Courage

Why

Make your own raft! While you are sailing, learn about famous explorers like Thor Heyerdahl and Ernest Shackleton.


Steps

1. Exploration takes a lot of courage. Thor Heyerdahl was a Norwegian who believed that people had traveled in handmade boats from South America to islands in the Pacific Ocean. So he and five other men built a raft of balsa logs and set off from Peru without rescue boats or fancy equipment. After 101 days at sea, they landed on Raroia in the Tuamotus archipelago, 4,300 miles from where they started. Find out more about this voyage, and then make a triarama to imagine their adventures.

2. With Crayola® Scissors, cut a large square from a recycled file folder. Fold the square in half twice by matching up the points. Cut one of your folds to the center of the X. To stand the triarama, slide the two pieces on either side of the cut together.

3. What ocean adventure scene will you show? Lay the triarama flat and illustrate the sides with Crayola Twistables. Attach the two sliding triangles of the floor together with Crayola School Glue.

4. To make ocean waves, color tracing paper and crumple it into swells. Glue to your scene.

5. Cut two short sections of cardboard rolls. Cut one into quarters for the raft timbers. Roll tightly, glue, and hold each one together with a rubber band. Cut the other roll in half for the mast. Find a small box for the shelter atop the raft. Cut tracing paper into rectangles for sails. Color all parts with Crayola Multicultural Markers. When the glue is dry, remove the rubber bands.

6. Weave the raft timbers together with raffia. Glue everything together to show your Kon-Tiki Courage!

Safety Guidelines

Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project.

Small Parts— WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD—Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

Scissors—ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling. Blunt-tip scissors should be used only by children 4 years and older. Pointed-tip scissors should be used only by children 6 years and older.

String-Like Materials—Includes string, raffia, lacing, yarn, ribbon, and other similar material. Children 3 years and younger should not be given any string-like material that is longer than 12 inches. Close adult supervision is essential whenever children use string-like material. When crafts are to be worn around the necks of children 8 years and younger, attach the ends of the “string-like material” with clear adhesive tape, which allows easy release of the bond if the craft becomes entangled or caught on equipment. For children older than 8 years, the ends of the “string-like material” may be tied and knotted.

Related Crafts

Crafts

 

Supplies

crayola supplies
  • Multicultural Markers
  • Twistables®
  • No-Run School Glue
  • Blunt-Tip Scissors
household supplies
  • tracing paper
  • raffia
  • recycled file folders
  • rubber bands

Where & When

"Our family enjoyed this so much that we searched for details about Heyerdahl’s other archeological adventures."
Jodi J., mother of 8-, 10-, and 11-year-olds.

"This project launched a whole armada! We delved into adventurers such as Hillary, Shackleton, Earhart, Peary, Scott, and Armstrong."
Alfrida M., after-school volunteer.


Interesting Info

Heyerdahl’s raft was named Kon-Tiki. Instead of a champagne bottle, a coconut was smashed across the bow to christen the raft.