Needs help with school project - make adobe house

[Jessd]

Hi!

My friend's son was assigned a project to make an adobe house.

I have been searching the net and have only found instructions on how to make a real house or find info on adobe software.

Does anyone know how to or know a website on how to make a little adobe house?

Thanks!

 

[Tina]

The only Adobe houses I've ever heard of are the ones made of clay in the Southwest... LOL. I've never heard of any adobe software that does that. Also, Adobe is not free (except Acrobat) so I find it odd that this would be a class assignment without the software included.

 

[kimmikayb]

I don't know of a web site, but why not paper mache over what ever form he wants, then put real mud on it, let it dry...bingo....adobe house! He can then paint door openings.

 

[DVCLiz]

The only Adobe houses I've ever heard of are the ones made of clay in the Southwest... LOL. I've never heard of any adobe software that does that. Also, Adobe is not free (except Acrobat) so I find it odd that this would be a class assignment without the software included.

Tina!!! Did you mean for this to be funny??!!!!!!!!

Go to Michael's and get some of that red clay. Make a thousand little bricks with it, then pile them up. Use toothpicks to keep them straight - stick a toothpick down through a stack of bricks. Roof it with whatever looks the best - I think we used sticks out of the yard. Did they have flat roofs? Just cover a piece of cardboard with a thin layer of clay and lay it on top. Voila! Leave a brick or two out for doors and windows. If you need to have it smooth, smooth the clay with your fingers after you build it with the bricks.

Boy, this brings back memories - my children never had to make the adobe house but I did in the fifth or sixth grade!!!

 

[Jessd]

Thanks for all the quick replies. I forwarded them onto my friend.

If anyone has any more suggestions, keep them coming!

 

[SC Minnie]

DD had to do this last semester. We hot glued cardboard in the house shape we wanted onto a larger piece of cardboard. Used paster webbing from Micheal's to cover the cardboard. Painted the webbing various shades of brown paint mixed with sand. Used sticks from the yard as a roof. Also put sand on the floor.

 

[motherhen17404]

DS had to do this years ago. He built a house out of Lego's then covered it with that red molding clay. His teacher loved it. But we had to throw it away when he was done. That darn clay would not come off of the Lego's!

 

[LadyyRedd]

When I was younger and had to do them in school, we used sugar cubes (do they still even sell those anymore)? We glued them together into the shape of the house and then painted them with the 'red clay' color of paint.

Kimya

 

[kat3668]

Heres a great link! Good luck!
http://craft.dow.com/proj/392.htm

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

I did this in 3rd grade (my mom would be the expert she helped all 4 kids through this project). Another vote for sugar cubes here.