INSIDE: Create this Harriet Tubman Lantern Craft for Black History Month with your child or students! It makes a great way to learn about the hard work of conductors like Harriet Tubman and all the members of the Underground Railroad. A fun craft for Black History Month!
Who was Harriet Tubman?
The life of Harriet Tubman is pretty amazing. Harriet Tubman, was born an enslaved person but escaped as an adult using the Underground Railroad, a network of safe houses where enslaved people could hide in as they made their way to the northern United States where slavery was outlawed.
Her journey was hard but she survived. After the Fugitive Slave Act was passed in 1850 (which meant free Black people in northern United Stated could be brought back to states that still had slavery in the South), she decided to help others, including her family to safey and freedom in Canada!
Harriet Tubman became one of the most famous conductors in the Underground Railroad. During her life she helped over 300 black people to escape slavery. Harriet Tubman was truly courageous. Risking her own life to help others.
Harriet Tubman’s Lantern
Many of these journeys were made under the cover of darkness. Harriet Tubman used a lantern to help guide the way for many enslaved black people to freedom. This craft is a great way to teach children of the important contribution Harriet Tubman made in history.
My Favourite Books about Harriet Tubman Parks
Check out the Video about Harriet Tubman
Looking for more? Check out these other Craft & Activity for Kids
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- The Best Anti-Racism Toys for Kids
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- Martin Luther King Jr. Day Crafts & Activities
How to Make a Harriet Tubman Lantern Craft for Black History Month
Grab your cardboard shoe box. Use box cutters to cut out all four sides of the box as shown.
Use a thin piece of cardboard to create the lantern handle and use a hot glue gun to attached the handle.
Paint the box on the outside red. Set it aside to dry.
Grab a cardboard tube and cut it in half. Take your hot glue gun and drip some hot glue along the top of the tube to make the tube look more like a candle with dripping wax. Paint it white. Set it aside to dry. (Note: I only got the idea to use hot glue to make the cardboard tube appear as if it had dripping wax after I painted it white. So I had to paint it white twice. You can add the hot glue drippings first and then paint the tube white one time).
How to Create the Candle Flame
Grab some yellow and orange construction paper. Cut out a large candle flame in yellow (make sure the yellow flame is at least as wide as the tube) and slightly smaller flame in orange. If you have gold foam sheets cut an even smaller flame. Or you can decorate the orange flame with gold glitter glue. Glue the orange flame to the yellow flame.
Once your candle is dry, make two slits at the top and slide the flame through them.
Use a hot glue gun to secure the candle to the bottom of the box lantern.
Supplies for Harriet Tubman Lantern Craft for Black History Month
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- Cardboard shoe box
- Cardboard Tube
- Hot Glue gun
- Box cutters
- Red and white paint
- Paint brushes and bowls
- Scissors
- Glue
- Orange and yellow construction paper
- Gold foam sheet or gold glitter glue.
Age Suitability for Harriet Tubman Lantern Craft for Black History Month
This activity is good for preschooler (with assistance) and older kids 3 years and up. My kids are 3.5, 3.5, and 7.5 year old. All the use of the hot glue gun and box cutter should be done by an adult or an older child.
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WILL YOU MAKE ANY OF THESE HARRIET TUBMAN LANTERN CRAFT WITH YOUR CHILD? PIN IT FOR LATER!
