Narnia and the North!

Narnia and the North!

So the title is a bit misleading but hear me out. We've

been reading a lot of the Chronicles of Narnia lately.

The girls have been galloping through the house on their

stick horses, cloaks billowing out behind them, calling out

to one other in faux British accents. I am thinking that

it won't be long before one of them asks for a bow and

some arrows. And Narnian costumes. Mmmmm.

Yesterday I asked the girls what they wanted to do after

lunch and Jenna said, "crafts" (of course). So we cut up a

corrugated cardboard box and made ships.

Emily's was the Dawntreader,

Jenna wanted a princess figurehead

and Kate had no opinion so we left the prow of her ship bare.

We started out with the basic ship, which was just

a flat bottom with two symmetrical sides.

These were hot-glued to the bottom, meeting at the bow

(front). A smaller, trapezoid-shaped piece of cardboard

was added to the back to form the stern.

If anyone is interested, here is the pattern - I thought I'd

trace it out and save it here in case we want to make these

again - like if we ever did a nautical-themed birthday

party. The ship is about 14" long and too big for a single

sheet of letter paper, so there is some cutting and

pasting to put the pattern together.

Two strips of cardboard were also glued across the

middle of the boat, each with a hole to support the

mast and sails. This way the rigging stays vertically

stable without glue, and is removable for easier access

to the deck during play. We started out with just

one strip, planning to hot-glue the mast to the

bottom of the boat, but the girls wanted it removable.

Next we added the figurehead and tail

and a command bridge and helm (steering wheel

thingy)- made with cardboard and toothpicks.

The mast was made from a dowel and a popsicle stick.

I'd have liked the masts to be taller but all we had were

these precut foot-long dowels. The sails and flags were

construction paper that the kids decorated.

The girls spent the pre-dinner hour fancying up their ships -

yes, Kate, too! -

then loaded them with passengers

and sailed off into the sunset. You could just read

Ariel's thoughts: "Attina was right about land couture -

puff sleeves! At my age! If not for my contract

with Disney.....grrrrr....Soon as I get off this boat

I'm firing my wardrobe manager."

Today we continued with anchors

and lifeboats.

I suggested we have an actual sea battle involving

cannons (bubble tea straws and playdoh cannonballs),

battering rams and gangplanks. And turn Kate's

oversized dinghy into a real pirate ship and play

Roman galleys (minus slaves) and Asterix and Obelix

meet Caspian and the Pevensies. Oo, crossover

pretend play. Chilling possibilities.

Sadly, the girls chose to stick to leisurely cruises,

traveling playmobil circuses and princess tea

parties at sea. Alas.

Original article and pictures take www.iconj.com site