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Ship in a Bottle Collage

Hope Creek Studios
May 30
1 min read

You know those classroom supplies you’ve had forever but never quite figured out how to use? I had several rolls of clear contact paper sitting around and it finally clicked—it looks like glass! So of course, we had to do something see-through. Enter: the Mayflower ship (or pirate ship) in a bottle.

We took a quick dive into the history of the Mayflower and talked about what the ship looked like and why it was important. Then students (Grade 1–3) created their own cut-and-assemble collage ships and placed them "inside" the bottle shape made of contact paper. They added sails, ocean waves, even a little sky if they had room. Once sandwiched between two layers of contact paper and trimmed into a bottle shape, they were perfect for hanging in the window—they really do give that bottled glassy look!

Why it works:This project hits the sweet spot of art meets history. It reinforces cutting, assembling, and spatial planning for little hands, while also giving them a peek into historical context. Plus, working with contact paper is just fun—it’s a unique material that adds an exciting element to the process. Students love seeing their ships "float" inside their bottle, and the final product is window-worthy, colorful, and engaging. And hey resourceful supply use? Always a win.