Make Your Own Mailbox

Just for Kids!
 
A colored-in orange mailbox made from paper sits on a white wooden table.

It’s fun to create an internal postal service—whether at home or in your classroom--and sending letters to your friends is a wonderful way to show them you’re thinking of them! Using supplies that you can easily find at home, these directions will guide you through building a paper mailbox to collect your mail.

 

Supplies:

  • Clear tape
  • Make Your Own Mailbox template
  • 1 Paperclip
  • Scissors
  • Markers, colored pencils, or crayons

Directions:

Prepare Your Pieces

  1. Cut out the five pieces (one large rectangle, one small rectangle, two half circles, and one flag) found on page 1 of the Make Your Own Mailbox template. Set aside.
  2. To make the body of your mailbox, fold along the dashed lines of page 2 in the Make Your Own Mailbox template.
  3. Using your markers, colored pencils, or crayons decorate the side of the mailbox body and half circles that don’t have dashed lines. Repeat with either side of the large rectangle, and both sides of the small rectangle from the Make Your Own Mailbox template.
    • Question: Mailboxes are required to include the numbers of the building’s address. What is the “address” of the place this mailbox will be placed?
  4. Using your markers, colored pencils, or crayons, color both sides of the flag cut out from the Make Your Own Mailbox template.
    • Question: These flags are used to attract the attention of letter carriers, letting them know when there are letters waiting to be collected. How can you color your flag to make sure it easily stands out from the rest of the mailbox?

Assemble Your Mailbox

  1. Making sure to keep the decorated side on the outside, use clear tape to attach the folded portion of the mailbox body to the large rectangle.
    • A black and white figure of a piece of paper folded over so the edges touch the ground, but the middle is up in the air and empty; the shape is similar to a rainbow.
  2. Fold along the dashed line on both half circle shapes.
  3. Using your tape again, attach one of the half circle shapes to either end of the curved paper. Remember to keep your decorations on the outside as you connect your pieces. This can be a difficult step—be patient, use small pieces of tape, and ask for help from an adult if you need.
    • A black and white figure of a piece of paper folded over so the edges touch the ground, but the middle is up in the air, and has been covered by a half circle; the shape is similar to a rainbow.
  4. Straighten the outer side of your paperclip so it looks like this:
    • A paper clip, with the outer bend having been straightened out.
  5. With the help of an adult, carefully use the straightened paperclip to puncture a hole in the body of the mailbox. Use the picture below to help decide where to make the hole.
    • A black and white figure of a piece of paper folded over so the edges touch the ground, but the middle is up in the air, and there is a dot in the upper righthand corner; the shape is similar to a rainbow.
  6. Keeping the paperclip in the mailbox, and with the help of an adult, carefully use the paperclip to puncture a hole in the decorated flag piece. Use the picture below to help decide where to make the hole.
    • An upside-down L with a hole at the bottom.
  7. Tape the paperclip to the inside of the mailbox so it doesn’t fall out.
  8. Fold your small rectangle on the dotted lines. Make sure to fold in different directions so, once finished, your paper looks like an “S”.
  9. To make the mailbox’s handle, use your tape to attach the folded rectangle piece to the center of the curved edge on the remaining half circle shape. Tape it to the undecorated side of the piece.
  10. Create the mailbox’s door in the opening by attaching the folded edge of the remaining half circle to bottom of the mailbox.
    • A black and white figure of a piece of paper folded over so the edges touch the ground, but the middle is up in the air, and there is a flap at the front, similar to a mailbox!
  11. Congratulations! You just made your very own mailbox that you can use it to send notes and letters to your family at home.
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