Make & Take Activity – Build a Barn
Create a popsicle barn craft!

Garner Interest
- Ask youth what color they think of when they think of barns. Answers may vary. Ask youth why they think so many barns are red? Explain, a long time ago, red paint was the cheapest paint. Red paint contained rust, which gave the paint its red color and helped to prevent moss from growing on a wooden barn. Clarify that we see many different colored barns today, but some people still choose to paint them the traditional red color.
- Explain to youth that they will be exploring the many purposes that barns can serve and will be building their own barn.
- Complete the following steps and explain that barns can be used to shelter livestock, produce a specific farm product, store farm products and equipment, or for a combination of purposes.
Conduct Activity
- Youth will need six craft sticks. Glue the sticks to the paper to form the shape of their barn.
- Use the marker to draw the black lines to create a door on the front of the barn and to write their name on the construction paper.
- Allow youth to decide what their barn will be used for. Will it house animals or hay? Use the stickers to let youth decorate their barns.
Make a Connection to Agriculture
Barns are buildings that can serve a variety of purposes. Barns can be used to shelter livestock, produce a specific farm product, store farm equipment, or for a combination of purposes. The specific use of a barn determines its design.
- Red cardstock paper
- Craft Sticks, 6 per craft
- Crayons and/or markers
- Farm themed stamps
- Farm animal stickers
- Tractor stickers
- Glue
- Black permanent marker
Create your own barn craft for your event so students can model their barn after your example!