Construction play leads future engineers, architects and builders into the world of STEM as they experiment with different shapes and techniques. By introducing these kinds of activities to your kids, you can open their minds to a whole world of creative 3D modelling.

Our series of construction activities for kids offers more than an afternoon’s worth of play – these projects are multi-day, epic adventures in three dimensions and, as an added extra, can teach children about our world. 

Kids will relish creating architectural structures like this Japanese pagoda (instructions below) from everyday craft items. Once they’ve conquered this, they can move on to the rest of our construction projects, which are perfect for school holidays or spreading over several weekends. These include the Golden Gate Bridge, a Mayan pyramid and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. And, as a grand finale, our popsicle and matchstick Eiffel Tower. 

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Popsicle-Stick Japanese Pagoda

Build a Japanese pagoda using popsicle sticks as a construction activity for kids.

Problem-solving, spatial awareness, motor skills and imagination all come into play in this fun construction activity. Watching the video, reading through all the instructions together and discussing the steps as you go are good exercises in STEM process and collaboration. And, as you work together on the project, it’s an opportunity to discuss different religions and cultures from around the world.

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Did You Know?

Thought to initially represent sacred mountains, pagodas are found in East and Southeast Asia and are usually associated with Buddhist places of worship. While structures on the mainland are often much taller and built of stone, Japanese pagodas are more likely to be built of wood, with the pieces cut to fit perfectly into each other so that very few nails are needed as part of the build. Not only is this a great show of craftsmanship but this type of construction is also more resistant to Japan’s earthquakes. 

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What You’ll Need

Make this cool construction activity for kids with popsicle sticks and glue.

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How to Make A Japanese Pagoda: Roof Structure

Building a Japanese pagoda out of popsicle sticks starts with gluing a simple T structure.

Step 1: First make the side pieces of the roof. Cut a jumbo popsicle stick in half, so there are two pieces of equal length. Keep one half for Step 5. Now, take two regular popsicle sticks and glue them together, one on top of each other to make a double-thick regular popsicle stick.  

Step 2: Glue the double-thick regular popsicle onto the top of the half jumbo popsicle stick, forming a T-shape, as shown above.

Use a low temperature glue gun when constructing the Japanese pagoda’s roof in this popsicle stick craft for kids.

Step 3: Use the T-bar as a base to make a trapezium roof shape out of regular popsicle sticks. First, glue on a stick just below the crossbar of the T, but a little to the right of the one above. Repeat gluing on sticks, a little to the right of the one above, all the way down the jumbo popsicle stick bar, to make a parallelogram as shown above. 

Step 4: Return to the top and begin the process again, but this time positioning the sticks a little further left each time, to create the other side of the roof shape. 

Step 5: Repeat steps 1-4 to make a second roof shape. Use the completed roof shape as a guide for where to position each stick, so that the second one is as similar as possible to the first. 

In this construction activity for kids, jumbo popsicle sticks are the craft material of choice.

Step 6: To make the centrepiece support for the roof, start with two jumbo popsicle sticks lying flat, side by side horizontally, then add glue to a third stick and stick it down on top of the other two to join them. 

Step 7: Add glue down the length of the edge of another jumbo popsicle stick and attach it, standing up, to the middle of the top piece, as shown above.

Adults may want to help younger children with this fun construction craft project.

Step 8: Spacing them out evenly along the length of one side of the centrepiece support, attach four regular popsicle sticks so that each is joined to the centre strut by the tip and at a downwards angle. Hold each stick in place until it is attached securely. 

Step 9: Repeat Step 8, so the four sticks you are adding to the second side of the centre support are positioned to match their counterparts on the first side. You have now made the roof frame. 

Take your time creating the roof struts in this popsicle stick craft for kids to ensure a sturdy construction.

Step 10: To start the main part of the roof, glue popsicle sticks onto the angled struts, in two sets of five, on either side of the centre, as shown above.

Constructing a Japanese pagoda from wooden sticks is a fun craft project for kids and adults alike.

Step 11: Using the images above as a visual guide, now create a second set of angled struts, but at a shallower angle to the first. Turn the roof upside down, then glue the tip of the flat side of a popsicle stick to the edge of an existing strut where it meets the roof support. 

Step 12: Continue to add popsicle sticks, maintaining the same angle, to each one of the struts on this side of the roof, so that there is a row of new struts at a shallower angle.

Keep methodically gluing popsicle sticks to the frame in this rewarding construction activity for kids.

Step 13: Now add more rows of popsicle sticks down the length of the new struts, to continue the roof, as shown above.

Step 14: Repeat Steps 11-13 on the other side. 

Additional support may be required for this popsicle sticks craft project for kids.

Step 15: Now attach the side pieces to the roof structure. First, place them inside the main roof section to get the positioning right. Then, after adding more support struts to the main section of the roof if needed, glue the side pieces to the main structure.

Step 16: The roof structure is now complete. 

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How to Make A Japanese pagoda: Bottom Structure

All you need for this craft for kids project is popsicle sticks, glue… and patience for the construction part!

Step 17: Place two jumbo popsicle sticks horizontally on your work surface, and space them the width of a regular popsicle stick apart. (You will be gluing a regular popsicle stick into this gap in Step 20, so it’s important to make sure it will fit in between.)

Step 18: Now use the glue gun to attach four regular popsicle sticks vertically to the jumbo sticks to make a fence-like structure as shown above. You are aiming for all of the vertical sticks to line up at the bottom and the top to overhang about half a centimetre at the top of the frame. Glue one stick at either end of the two jumbo sticks and then space the other two out evenly in the gap. (In Step 21, you will be placing two jumbo popsicle sticks in each of the three gaps you are making, so you might want to check they will fit before gluing down.) 

Step 19: Repeat Steps 17-18 to make a second frame. 

Create the bottom half of this 3D model of a Japanese pagoda by creating a frame out of popsicle sticks.

Step 20: With one of the frames lying down on your work surface, glue the end of a regular popsicle stick to the inside edge of the left hand gap between the jumbo popsicle sticks so the regular popsicle stick sticks up. Then do the same with a second stick on the right hand side. When the sticking-up sticks are secure, you can put some glue on their top ends to slot in and attach the second frame as shown above. When the glue is dry, you should have a structure that stands up.

Make the floor for this 3D modelling project using jumbo popsicle sticks, carefully glued together.

Step 21: To make the floor of the Japanese pagoda, stand your structure up and glue two jumbo popsicle sticks in each of the three gaps between the regular popsicle sticks. 

Trim popsicle sticks to act as vertical braces for the walls in this kids’ construction activity craft project.

Step 22: To make each of the walls of the Japanese pagoda, line up three jumbo popsicle sticks side by side horizontally. Take another jumbo popsicle stick, cut off the rounded top to make a straight edge, then measure it against the width of the three jumbo popsicle sticks and cut to make a vertical brace for the wall, as shown above. Do it again to make a second brace and then glue them on to either end of the wall.

Step 23: Repeat Step 22 three more times to make the four walls.

This glue gun craft project takes patience, but is a great STEM activity for kids.

Step 24: Turn your bottom structure so a side with the two jumbo popsicle sticks is facing you. Use the glue gun to dab glue on the outside tops of the vertical standing sticks as shown above. Attach a wall at the back, so that the braces are on the inside. Repeat for the front wall. 

Step 25: Add a line of glue to either end of the side walls where they will meet the front and back walls. Add them on, holding in place till they feel secure. You now have the bottom of your Japanese pagoda. 

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How to Make A Japanese pagoda: Putting It Together

Construction activities for kids use STEM skills, plus this Japanese pagoda project is a great cultural learning tool.

Step 26: Place the roof structure on top of the bottom structure. There is an option to secure this with glue if you desire, however the roof structure should sit securely on top without glue. Well done, your Japanese pagoda is complete!

Extension: Add more roof structures to create the multistorey effect – Japanese pagodas often have five storeys to represent the elements of earth, water, fire, wind and space. Or add some colour! Traditionally, red, green, black and gold are used to decorate the temples, with every temple looking slightly different. You could do some research on your own to find one you like and replicate that in your own structure. 

SEE ALSO: 5 Fun DIY Paddle Pop Stick Craft Ideas

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