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Cardboard Skyscraper
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Lion – Kindergarten
Build It Up, Knock It Down
Elective
Requirement 1

Cardboard Skyscraper

Lion – Kindergarten
Build It Up, Knock It Down
Elective
Requirement 1

Cardboard Skyscraper

Snapshot of Activity

Lions work with their adult partners to build a shoe box skyscraper.

Indoor
3
4
3
If you want to know more about The Adventure Activity Key click here.

The box sizes listed below are typical sizes used by home delivery services you can substitute for similar sizes. 

  • Building materials listed below for each Cub Scout 
    • 1 – Large cardboard box – for example, 25” x 20” x 13.75” 
    • 2 – Medium cardboard boxes – for example, 14” x 12.5” x 9.5”  
    • 3 – Small cardboard boxes – for example, 10” x 7” x  3”  
    • 1 – Smaller cardboard box – for example, 9” x 6” x 3.5” 
    • 1 – sheet of flat cardboard – 25” x 20” 
    • 1 – sheet of flat cardboard – 13.75” x 15” 
    • 1 – sheet of flat cardboard – 28” x 9” 
    • 1 – sheet of flat cardboard – 30” x 5” 
    • 1 – sheet of flat cardboard – 6” x 6” 
    • 1 – 8 oz plastic cup 
  • Magic markers – enough to share 
  • 8 oz of quick-dry craft glue 

Before the meeting: 

  1. Learn how to make a cardboard Skyscraper by watch this YouTube video, ”Cardboard Skyscraper.” 
  2. Glue all the boxes closed and allow them to dry. 
  3. Set up the meeting location to allow Cub Scouts and adult partners enough space to make their skyscrapers.  

During the meeting: 

  1. Gather the Cub Scouts and adult partners. Share with them that during this activity each Cub Scout will work with their adult partner to make a cardboard skyscraper.  
  2. Share with the den that buildings are not built by one person, it requires a lot of people who can each do something different. Some people know how to make walls, some know how to paint, and others know how to put in windows and doors.  They all work together to make the building.  As you work together explore the different things that need to be done, gluing, cutting, and drawing to see what you enjoy the most. 
  3. Have each Cub Scout and adult partner make a skyscraper. 
    • Glue the 20” x 24” flat cardboard on top of the large box, this will give it extra strength. 
    • Glue the two medium boxes horizontally on top each other than onto the large box. 
    • Glue the three small boxes vertically on top of each other. 
    • Glue the plastic cup on top of the smallest box. 
    • Take the 6” x 6” flat cardboard and cut out a circle (this will be the clock.) 
    • Glue the 13.75” x 15” flat cardboard vertically on the front of the large box. 
    • Glue the 28” x 9” flat cardboard vertically on the front of the two medium boxes. 
    • Attach the 6” cardboard circle you cut out to the top of the flat cardboard you glued to the medium boxes to make the clock. 
    • Glue the 30” x 5” flat cardboard vertically on the front of the three small boxes. 
    • Decorate the lower and top of the skyscraper before putting them together, it is easier this way so you can decorate the building with it lying flat on the workspace. 
    • Once decorated glue the upper part of the building to the lower part of the building. 
  4. Once everyone has completed their skyscraper ask Cub Scouts and adult partners what they like about the project.  Ask them to share how they worked together and if there was a time when it was good to have two people working on the building instead of just one.

Other Activities Options

You can choose other activities of your choice.

Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.