Here are the directions for how we made a model tabernacle from scratch. We kept ours through Unit 3, so we could use parts of it for the Temple.

First we looked at lots of pictures of the real tabernacle. Then we went to Hobby Lobby. I just walk around looking at my list of what I need to represent parts of the tabernacleknowing and look for inspiration. My kids give lots of input too! Then I fill the shopping cart and set my kids to work! Lol

The base is styrofoam. I looked at what they had and just laid them out to see what size would work best for us. I got 2 pieces to put together. I think the final size was about 24"x18". So the
individual pieces must have been 12'x9". I knew glue would not hold them together so I stuck popsicle sticks into one side and mashed the other styrofoam piece into that and got one big piece I wanted. Then we pulled all our craft paints of browns and whites in varying shades and painted. (This is a great way to use up leftovers.) This takes forever!!! The styrofoam soaks up a lot of paint. We just let each layer dry and eventually it was enough. I think we started with a dark brown and when we ran out of that we went to another shade and hodge podge it all over. You can't really go wrong here. The idea is to simulate dirt.

For the outer walls I used popsicle sticks and the cheapest white cotton fabric I could find. We put the popsicle sticks into the styrofoam, spaced out, and about the size needed for the outer
wall. I measured from the end of one opening to the other and cut that out of the white cotton lengthwise. Then while the popsicle sticks remained in the styrofoam, I measured from the base to the top and that is how wide I cut the strip of fabric. Then I took out the two popsicle sticks, one on each end of the entrance, and glued them to each end of the fabric with Aleene's Tacky Glue (in a brown bottle-for me just as good and I don't burn myself or get those stringy pieces). Then we inserted them into the styrofoam and made sure the white fabric fits all around the "fence posts" and is tight.

Now for the Holy Place. I used cardboard from one of the boxes that ship to our house with books. I cut it down to size, making a U shape. We painted that dark brown.

For the door to the Holy Place and the door on the fence, I had dd weave red and blue yarns on a loom. Then we put them in place. We took our dimensions from what was left of the opening on the white fence and the U shaped walls for the Holy Place. She also wove one for the curtain for the Holy of Holies. I looked high and low for the perfect fabric with angels, but couldn't find any. I had
thought we could embroider cherubim on the weaving…but ran out of time.

DS used Sculpey clay to make all the furniture. That is easy to work with, bake, and paint. DS is quite the artist and has wonderful precision to detail (and takes f-o-r-e-v-e-r). He just looked at pictures and I helped him decide on the right size to make things fit. I also helped simplify the method of making certain elements.

For the curtain coverings over the Holy Place, I looked in two sections of Hobby Lobby. Of course the fabric section. But also in the craft section (on the other side of the store) there are cool
elements for felt, making masks…and samples of interesting "fabrics/leathers/etc" These measure about 12'x9".

For the first covering, a weaving of blue, purple, scarlet with cherubim…I think we skipped. We ran out of time to make it and I couldn't find a facsimile anywhere.

For the second covering of Goat's Hair,that is the layer ds is peeling back in one of the pictures posted in the files). I found that in the craft area of Hobby Lobby. (He was showing this to the grandparents and the other layers were put to the side.)

For the third covering of Ram Skins Dyed Red, we found a "fabric" like that in the craft section of Hobby Lobby. It's a type of felt.

For the fourth covering, Badger Skins, we found a black type of alligator skin looking fabric in the fabric section. I asked for 1/4 of a yard I think, and I cut that down to size.

This took a bit of time but the kids enjoyed the process and we learned the positions and purpose of each part, which I thought was important. Although I had studied the tabernacle in Bible studies, I could never remember anything until we did this.  It was a memorable project!