The Corner at Home Activity: Paperclip Trains

Paperclip Train Activity

*Please note this activity is suitable for children 3+ and their carers. This activity contains small parts and adult supervision is required. 

Hello and welcome to The Corner at Home Activities. Today’s activity is inspired by a very popular mode of public transport that people use to travel every day - trains! In the old days, trains were powered by coal or steam. Now, most trains are powered by electricity - but not the paperclip train; it’s powered by you! All aboard the Paperclip Train!

Kids - big and little, process complex information when we are engaged in play and having fun, so let’s put on our best imaginative, playful hats together. 

Let’s get started! Today, join Tom as he creates a paperclip train as impressive as it is long. We will encourage children to explore and construct their own designs in this fun and friendly open-ended play activity. You could always construct more than one train to go on train adventures together with your little one.

What materials and equipment you will need? 

Use materials and objects found in your home environment:

• Paperclips (any size) 
• Blu-tac or Play Dough
• (optional) For the front of the train: toy animal/toy car/bulldog clip. If you don’t have any of these, just use a regular paperclip
• Chalk or masking tape and scissors.