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Milk Carton Traffic Light

You can turn this simple project into a standup traffic light or a basket.  This is a good craft to make when discussing traffic safety (when to cross the street when riding a bike, etc).

 

Traffic Light Song
Tune: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle traffic light,
Round the corner shining bright.
Red means stop,
Green means go,
Yellow means very, very slow.
Twinkle, twinkle traffic light,
Round the corner shining bright.

Materials:

  • empty milk carton - a 2 litre milk carton (Canadian) is the same as a 1/2 gallon milk carton (American)
     
  • red, green and yellow construction paper (or print the templates provided)
     
  • black construction paper
     
  • Scissors
     
  • tape and/or glue
     
  • OPTIONAL:  gift wrap tube

Directions:

  • Cut the top off a milk carton (just the very top part where you pour -- keep as much of the rectangular part of the carton as possible)
     
  • Cover the carton with black construction paper (tape it on)
     
  • Cut 3" circles from red, green and yellow construction paper
     
  • Glue the circles onto the container (red, yellow, green from top to bottom).  If you're making a basket, the open side is the top.  If you're making a prop, the closed side is the top.
     
  • OPTIONAL:  Put a gift wrap tube inside the traffic light and set it on a hard flat surface (a hard cover book works).  You can use it as a prop to discuss traffic safety or you can do some "real life" practice by covering the green and yellow lights with wax paper (so red is brighter) and have the kids ride their bikes up to the lights and stop.
     
  • OPTIONAL:  To make a basket, take strips of green, red and/or yellow and tape them to the container (the opening should be up).

 

Traffic Light Template    (color)   or   (B&W)

   

 

Printable Version of these instructions