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Fell a tree

Fell a tree
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Build a safe model tree from cardboard and a wooden dowel, then simulate felling with a hinge and weights to learn forces and safety.

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Step-by-step guide to simulate felling a model tree

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How to Fell a Tree Safely with a Chainsaw - Step-by-Step!

What you need
Adult supervision required, cardboard, colouring materials, duct tape, pencil, ruler, scissors or craft knife, small weights such as washers coins or a small bag of rice, wooden dowel

Step 1

Ask an adult to supervise you and clear a flat workspace so you have room to build and test safely.

Step 2

Use the ruler and pencil to draw a 20 cm by 20 cm square on the cardboard for the base.

Step 3

Carefully cut out the square cardboard base using scissors or a craft knife with adult help.

Step 4

Mark a small circle in the center of the base that is a little smaller than the dowel diameter.

Step 5

Make the hole you marked in the center of the base using scissors or a craft knife with adult help.

Step 6

Push the wooden dowel up through the hole so it stands upright and fits snugly in the base.

Step 7

Tape a long strip of duct tape along one side of the dowel base to create a hinge so the dowel can tilt away from the taped side.

Step 8

Cut cardboard pieces for branches and a leafy canopy using scissors or a craft knife with adult help.

Step 9

Attach the branch and canopy pieces to the top of the dowel using tape so they stay in place.

Step 10

Tape small weights to one side of the canopy to make the tree favor tipping toward that side.

Step 11

Gently push the canopy and watch how the tree pivots on the tape hinge to see how it falls while an adult watches.

Step 12

Move the weights closer to or farther from the trunk or add more weight to see how the falling changes and test again.

Step 13

Place a folded towel under the fall path to protect your table and try a few safe trials with adult supervision.

Step 14

Take a photo or write what you learned and share your finished model and your safety notes on DIY.org

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

I can't find a wooden dowel or duct tape—what can I use instead?

Use a sturdy pencil, chopstick, or straight stick instead of the wooden dowel and replace the duct tape hinge with strong masking tape or cloth tape folded into a strip along the side of the cardboard base so the stick still fits snugly through the center hole and can tilt.

The dowel keeps wobbling or the tree won't fall—how do I fix it?

If the dowel wobbles or the hinge is too stiff, wrap tape around the dowel base or add small cardboard shims so it fits snugly in the marked center hole and adjust or loosen the long strip of tape hinge so the dowel can pivot when you gently push the canopy.

How can I adapt this activity for younger children or older kids?

For younger kids have an adult pre-cut the 20 cm by 20 cm base and make the center hole while they stick on branches and weights, and for older kids have them precisely measure weight positions, record fall angles, and test different hinge placements and weight amounts.

How can I extend or personalize the tree-falling experiment?

Decorate the canopy, attach different small weights like coins or washers, draw a protractor and ruler scale on the base to measure fall angles and weight distance, and keep a photo or data table comparing how moving weights changes the pivot and falling behavior.

Watch videos on how to simulate felling a model tree

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

One Easy Method to Fell a Tree Safely

3 Videos

Facts about forces, levers, and safety for kids

⚖️ The center of mass decides which way an object will tip — moving small weights on your model shows this clearly.

🔩 A hinge provides a pivot point: changing hinge position or stiffness changes how much force is needed to start the fall.

📦 Cardboard is made from layers of paperboard and its corrugated structure gives it surprising strength for lightweight models.

🌲 In real logging, a large tree can weigh several tons — that's why cutting direction and safety planning are critical.

🪓 Professional loggers use a notch plus a back cut to control fall direction — your model's hinge and weights mimic that idea.

How do you build and simulate felling with a model tree?

Start by mounting a wooden dowel upright into a sturdy base (plywood or thick cardboard) and glue a folded cardboard “crown” to the top. Attach a small hinge or flexible joint near the base so the trunk can pivot. Add removable weights (washers or coins) to the crown or a hooked line to change the center of mass. Mark a safe fall zone, measure angles with a protractor, then gently release the hinge to observe how weight and angle affect where the model falls. Always supervise children.

What materials do I need to make a safe model tree and felling rig?

You’ll need a wooden dowel (trunk), sturdy base (plywood or thick cardboard), cardboard for branches/foliage, a small hinge or flexible joint, screws or strong tape, glue, clamps, small weights (washers or coins), a protractor, ruler, marker, scissors/utility knife (adult use), safety goggles and adult supervision. Optional: hot glue gun, sandbags to stabilize the base, and string to attach/remount weights for experiments.

What ages is this model tree felling activity suitable for?

This activity suits children 6–8 with close adult help for cutting and attaching parts. Ages 9–12 can build the model with supervision and begin experimenting with weights and angles. Teens (13+) can design variations, record measurements, and analyze forces more independently. Adjust tasks: younger kids can assemble cardboard crowns and place weights while adults handle tools and hinge installation.

What safety tips should we follow when simulating tree felling with a model?

Always supervise and require safety goggles. Secure the base with clamps or sandbags so the pivot won’t shift. Use light weights at first and keep hands clear of the hinge and fall zone. Cut cardboard with adult help; use blunt tools for younger children. Never point the model toward people or breakable objects. Emphasize that this is a scaled lesson—real tree felling is dangerous and should be left to professionals.
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